Drew Hunter's father, fiance and best friend rode across a rainswept bridge on the Massachusetts coastline on Sunday to complete a cross-country bike ride to raise funds for kayaking safety programs.
Dubbed the Tour de Hunter, the 5,000-mide bike ride honored the memory of Hunter, a 28-year-old former Marshfield resident who died in a kayaking accident in June.
One hundred friends and family met the trio as they finished their bike tour. Another 1,500 fans followed the bike ride over the past few months at the Tour de Hunter Facebook page.
Hunter's fiance, Jenna Seoane, and best friend, Brendan Cohen, started the TransAmerica bike tour in Astoria, Oregon, in July. Hunter's father, Jeremy, joined the duo in St. Louis and completed the trip with them. They were joined by other supporters during parts of the trip.
Their bike tour is explained at the Tour de Hunter website:
“Brendan and Jenna are trying to get some sort of positive out of this horrible tragedy, and to honor Drew in a way he would love. Drew would want everyone to continue enjoying kayaking, and to understand that safety is a huge part of the sport. ….
“It seemed natural for Brendan and Jenna to do the ride together. They have laughed, cried, and shared memories of Drew the entire ride. They feel there is something about this adventure that helps the heart heal, while hoping to make a positive impact on kayaking and the excitement it offers, just as Drew would want.”
The money raised by Tour de Hunter will go for whitewater safety cards that kayakers carry, kayak safety classes, kayaking rodeos and safety gear giveaways.
The Tour de Hunter pages on Facebook contain journal entries where they tell about Jenna's injury and a late night visit by a growling cougar in Kansas. The cyclists carried their own gear and camped out many nights, always finding a friendly spot to pitch the tent.
Flipping through the journal entries, I was impressed at how upbeat everyone was during the bike tour.
If you're interested in kayaking safety, check the Tour de Hunter website to learn how to donate to this cause.
Picture above from Tour de Hunter Facebook pages.
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