From Fog to Celebration

In a Fog- That's how I felt during most of the preparations for 60 for Hope. My idea was not well formulated with "time tested strategies" for reaching the goals. It was more like a middle-of-the-night dabbling. But now I know fog as a friend! On the morning of the ride, fog was a cooling friend that added sparkle to my skin and hope for a comfortable ride day.

Elements of fog surrounded the ride goals of 60 riders and the fundraising traget of $60,000. This fog lifted to reveal incredible gifts - 65 riders/joggers plus 4 individuals who raised funds but due to unexpected happening were not able participate in the ride.

The most dense fog covered the $60,000! Was it insane to set such a goal in this economic climate? Now in the brightest of sunlight, I proclaim that we not only reached, but surpassed this goal - $62,124 has been raised to date!! Light is beaming into the lives of homeless single moms and their children because of this record support from a vast community! We had an incredible number of donors- at least 525 individuals from 16 states and 2 other counties!

Wow! Beyond my wildest dreams, indeed!

With the fog of planning and training for this event now lifted I discovered many wonderful, unexpected outcomes to celebrate:


1. Affirmations from across the country to my mother for her courage and dedication as a single parent. There were many heart warming notes that accompanied donations in her honor.


2. An enthusiastic cheer from Bridge of Hope moms when the 60 for Hope fundraising results were announced at a Bridge of Hope night!

3. One-third of the $62,124 was given by people who were first-time donors to Bridge of Hope's minitry! I am blessed by this amazing support from new donors who have generously taken Bridge of Hope's minitry to single mothers and their children to heart.


4. The fun of linking two women as 60 for Hope riding partners and learning that they continue to ride together.

5. Setting an all-time high for fundraising and rider participation as a charity in Dream Ride Lancaster. We raised more than triple the amount of any previous record.

6. Ongoing interest in this ride from news publications and people I pass on the street- the word of this ride has definitely spread far and wide!

7. Friends who drove the distance to ride with me - from Indiana, Virginia, Maryland!

Mother and I celebrate with much joy the way a whole community came together and surrounded our dream with incredible affirmation and generosity! We are filled with much hope for other single mothers and their children - and know the fog is lifting to reveal the kingdom of God at work here on earth!! Thank You! Thank You!

And Now for the Drum Roll!

“Why should I read that?” were the words from my mother’s mouth when she was handed a paper and asked to read the amount of $58,900 written there! Truly Mother and I were both shocked by this outpouring of generosity toward our $60,000 goal! I'm fully confident we'll reach our goal and beyond in coming days.

Thank you to all for helping to build a “community of hope” for homeless and at-risk single mother and their children on this day! Truly the wonderful generosity of each rider, each donor and each volunteer are gifts Mother and I will forever recall! May God be praised!

Read Ride Day detail and enjoy a few photos in blog posts below.

That Kathryn!

Ok, by now you know that my mom, Kathryn Hess, is an incredible woman! With the same steady dedication and “can do” mindset with which she has tackled life, Mother rode back and forth on the farm lane until she achieved her goal of riding 5 miles! Pedaling beside her with equal enthusiasm were her great grandchildren, Dylan (6) and Mia (4). I was pleased they took over after my mid-course victory lap with my mom.

Fog, Whistles And Rowdy Fans!

Saturday dawned with cool air and cloudy skies, providing pleasurable riding for the first few hours. Due to morning fog, the start of our ride was delayed until 6:15 a.m. Ten miles into our ride at the first water station 4 more friends joined our growing entourage which by day's end reached 60 riders. At the crest of the hill on Kraybill’s Church Road, we enjoyed a momentary time warp when we passed a horse-drawn crop sprayer on the road. And one mile later we were greeted by a huge crowd of cheers, whistles and fanfare at the end of the farm lane where I grew up. Notable among them was Mom, who sat perched on her adult size tricycle wearing cutest riding bonnet and her 60 for Hope T-shirt. She was obviously ready to roll!

See additional ride day adventures in next blog

Fog Lifts Before Mile 42!

The fog was nearly gone by the time we pedaled the first half of the ride. After giving hearty hoops and hoorays for riding companions who finished their ride with mile 30, Harley and I refilled our water bottles and headed out for the second leg of our adventure. We were a riding two-some for most of the sunny trek back to my childhood home. As we pedaled up Airport Road several parachute jumpers floated overhead rekindling my girlhood memories of lying in the grass on sunny afternoons to watch colorful figures such as these drift from the sky. At the water stop we paused with another group of fans to watch them land.

It was great fun to ride to the end of Airport Road with our grandchildren, Dylan and Mia! Although they didn’t understand all the implications of this ride, they certainly caught the vision of something larger than grandma and grandpa was going on here. Inspiration for the final 15 more miles ahead came in part, from new riders who joined us here – my Uncle Dick, who traveled from Goshen, IN and teenage cousins, Isaac and Reuben Zeigler, who had early morning farm chores! Midway between the next water stop, Reuben turned off to the home of a friend and Uncle Dick pedaled a route of his choosing past landmarks from his boyhood neighborhood. But Isaac remained a committed riding partner to the end of our 60 mile adventure!

Victory Lap!

By now the full heat of the mid-day sun urged us to find shady spots for quick sips for water. And I knew that Stackstown Road, the most tedious part of the ride, was just ahead. This road leading into the village of Maytown is a great road to drive if one enjoys the sensation of a roller coaster ride! Just 5 more miles to our final destination! My stamina was waning as I’d crest one hill, thinking it was the last only to see another up ahead! My speed dropped to a near crawl until I sailed downward again!

With Route 441 just coming into view, a driver in an oncoming car shouted, “Yeah, Kate, you did it!” It was Jamie Bricker and her husband Matthew who had already finished his 60 mile ride. Just one more mile, making it 61, Isaac, Harley and I rode across the finish line to the whistles and cheers of family and fans! Adrenalin still pumping we rode a second victory loop with Dylan and Mia under the celebration arch!

PARTY TIME!

A crisp evening breeze welcomed guests to the perfect setting for the post-ride celebration in the Keefer’s barn. A buffet of freshly roasted pork, baked beans and assorted salads drew the crowd to the “feeding troughs” like cattle in bygone days. Cousin Bob Hess roasted an absolutely amazing pig which was served with an over-the-top sauce made by his wife Sharon! I was overwhelmed when I learned that Bob stayed up all night to roast this pig to perfection! Later guests enjoyed four fabulous flavors of Carmen and David’s ice cream, three options of cake and assorted cookies made especially for this day by my dear mother.

Before serving dessert, Bridge of Hope board member and ride committee chair, David Hollister, recognized lead ride sponsors by name and presented gifts of appreciation to the three adult riders who raised the most in pledge support Toby Leaman, my husband Harley and my brother Dwight Hess.

David also recognized were two youth riders: Derric Stoltzfus – a 15 year old 60 mile rider who raised $1,500 and Ellen Harnish – a 13 year old, 30 mile rider who was our youngest rider to raise sponsorship support for 60 for Hope.

More party highlights below.