Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
6/28/06 

Greetings Riders,
 
Well, we are now turning the calendar page to July. And what is that I am smelling in the air. Yep, it is the smell of "MONSOON". After 25 years of living here, I know that the monsoons bringing rain and humidity are a part of the experience of being an Arizona resident. I can now feel the monsoon weather starting to work its way in. What that means is that your free pass to escape the Valley heat and take a beautiful ride to the high country is soon going to come with the risk of getting wet somewhere along the way. Check the forecasts before you take off to see what to expect.
 
A week ago Monday I took one of those rides up North and it was beautiful, no monsoon in sight. You are probably wondering why I would do this on a Monday. That is because a couple of weeks ago my buddy Scott Pasmore from TV 3 called and asked if would want to go with him to cover a story about the Phoenix Chapter of Wind and Fire riding to the Arizona Children's Burn Camp in Prescott to make a donation. Without a pause, I said I would love to go ride with the group and see the kids. I'm glad I did.
 
On June 19th we met at fire station #50 in Phoenix  with representatives of 3 local TV stations including Channel 3. After a brief meeting to go over our route we were on our way with over 50 bikes to take a scenic ride to Prescott via Wickenburg, Yarnell and through the Prescott National Forest on Hwy. 89. As always, this was a very enjoyable ride. I don't know how many times I have ridden this route, but I always seem to experience a different feel or look along the way. I guess that is the beauty of riding a motorcycle on these types of roads. You get to enjoy the 360 degree view of your surroundings instead of the letter box view out of a car.
 
We arrived in Prescott at around Noon for a BBQ lunch in Granite Park along with some presentations amongst the group to recognize those who have helped raise the money that would be given to the burn camp. At around 1:30pm we were saddled back up for the 8 mile ride South of Prescott through the Prescott National Forest to Pine Summit Camp where we would visit the Arizona Children's Burn Camp known as "Camp Courage".
 
Camp Courage is where 100 young burn survivors attend a week-long experience at the Arizona Children’s Burn Camp. This is a place where these children can go to be with other children who are survivors of critical burns and enjoy horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, performing skits, making crafts, and pushing their personal skills during the ropes course and stepping off the perch to take a ride on the "zip line". Camp Courage attendance is encouraged for all children ages 6-15 who have survived a burn.
 
The camp is free to these kids and is funded by donations to the Foundation for Burns and Trauma which is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, founded and incorporated in Phoenix, AZ in 1967 by two Maricopa County surgeons, Dr. MacDonald Wood, Dr. William Price, and by attorney, George F. Randolph. The Foundation's current mission: To assist burn victims and their families in becoming burn survivors through rehabilitation, treatment and research; the reduction of death and injury from burns and fire through prevention education; and to serve as an advocacy partner for the prevention of trauma associated with other injuries. 
 
When we arrived at the camp all of the motorcycles parked on the basketball court where there was a presentation from The Wind and Fire Phoenix Chapter totalling $12,000 which included donations of $2144.00 from Rock Bottom restaurants and $2500 from Banner Health. Later there was another $5000 donated from Wind and Fire that brought the total to $17,000.
 
On a personal note, I will admit to feeling a little uneasy on the way into the camp. I didn't know what I was going to see or how these kids were going to react with a bunch of people coming in to visit with them. What I saw were kids that had survived a range of severe burns on their face and arms to some that were not as noticeable. Most of these burns were a result of house fires, mobile home fires, automobile accidents and one young girl at a young age pulled down a pot of hot grease off of the stove.
 
I really wanted to talk with these kids, but in the beginning I was the one acting like the child. I'll admit, I was focused on the injuries and was a little apprehensive in talking with these young burn survivors, but as I got into the camp and saw all of these kids having fun on the zip line, riding horses, swimming or just enjoying each other. When I started to have conversations with these children I began to see right past their burns to see the child beneath, not concerned about their injuries and just happy to be in an environment with other children who have suffered similar injuries. This was told to me early on, but all of a sudden it hit me that this was the very reason why they have this camp. It gives these kids one week out of the year that they can totally be themselves, build their self-esteem through activities, not have to worry about covering up their scars, feeling inadequate in their surroundings or being the brunt of jokes in their schools.
 
As I rode out of "Camp Courage" that day I realized that I too had taken something from this camp. I learned to shed some of my own inhabitions about the scars and outward appearances and try to make the time with these kids a little more special. I felt somewhat fullfilled about being there, but as I rode away I was left wanting to be able to spend more time with them. I was also struck by the irony that Firefighters were out raising money to give back to the very kids that they might have had pulled out of a burning house, mobile home or car. If anyone, Firefighters know first hand the pain and suffering that is endured by people that have suffered burns. Seeing those 50 motorcycles roar through the camp that day to deliver the money that had been raised for these kids, made me proud to be a motorcycle rider and to be in the company of such a giving group of Firefighters. God Bless you guys.
 
Click Here for the excellent video that Scott Pasmore did for TV3 with interviews from the Arizona Burn Camp. Thanks to Scott for telling me about this ride and to the Wind and Fire Firefighters for their hospitality and allowing me ride along.
 
Click Here for Photos from the day.
 

Ok, I'm going to tell you right now this one is a little bit creepy. I don't know how this guy does this but it looks about as real as it can be. Click Here.
 
If you ever get taken in for having a little too much to drink. This guy would be the poster boy of what not to do. Click Here.