June Curry, the renown “Cookie Lady” of the TransAmerica bicycle route, is busy with the Bike House once again this spring.
Recovering from a stroke she suffered in February (and a broken wrist in April), June needs help to keep the Bike House up and running now.
It's no longer a one-woman operation; it's more like a community project. June's aide and members of a local bicycle club check on visitors and make sure the house is clean, and pupils at a local school even sponsored a food drive to make sure the cupboards are stocked.
June has offered refreshments and lodging to more than 11,000 cyclists since the first riders struggled up the hill through rural Afton, Va., in that first Bikecentennial summer of 1976. That's why the Adventure Cycling Association gave its first Trail Angel Award to her in 2003. You can understand why a stroke and a broken wrist would do little to distract her.
After writing about the Trail Angel Award yesterday, I checked in with Joyce Cooke, June's friend and a member of the Milepost Zero Bicycle Club that has been helping out June in recent years. Here's her update:
“June is doing pretty well. I'm not sure if you know but she fell and broke her right wrist 3 weeks ago and is in a cast. I think this upset her more than the stroke!
“Her progress is slow as she awaits the cast removal. She still has a helper and the Bike House is up and running. Another MPZ club member, Debbie Heizer, and I cleaned the Bike House and got it ready for visitors. My school, Bethany Lutheran School, did their annual food drive for the Cookie Lady and stocked the Bike House with lots of good food for the visiting cyclists.
“June is not up to running back and forth to the Bike House yet but has met quite a few touring cyclists already this season. Either her helper or one of us has been keeping tabs on the visitors and making sure that the house is in tip-top shape for the next visitor.
“Please continue to visit and send letters this season. She needs us now more than ever!”
June would love to hear from cyclists who have stopped by over the years. You probably know that she collects postcards! Joyce says any letters of support or donations can be sent to:
June Curry
3252 Afton Mountain Road
Afton, VA 22920
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