Beacon Strong at FARA Charity Bike Ride
We continue to shine the light on lesser-known causes in our community. This summer was even better with our involvement in the rideATAXIA fundraiser with Team Beacon. The bike ride was organized by FARA and hosted in Channahon, IL, along the I&M Canal on Sunday, July 9.
“There were various lengths you could ride, 4, 12 and 27 miles. Most of us did the 12 miles,” said Janessa Bender, Management Team Administrator for PanAmerican Seed. Members of PanAmerican Seed have close ties to this worthy cause as Janessa has been involved in the ride for 14 years and Valerie Lynch, whose husband has the disease, participated for their first time as a couple.
To help support this year’s charitable organization, Team Beacon was created to ride in this year’s fundraiser. Our team raised $3,474.00 (USD) of a $5,000 goal for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). We also donated 20 color bowls of various Beacon Impatiens to each of the team captains. Beacon Strong tattoos and stickers were also given to participants, which they adorned throughout the fundraiser.
Participants of Team Beacon were: Sara Makiejus, Janessa Bender, Simone Crain and family, Hannah Swegarden, Roberto Lozano, and Valerie and Jake Lynch.
Wave Petunias was also in attendance supporting the Beacon Strong cause. The Wave Van made a special appearance on the bike route cheering on participants as they raced passed.
In addition to our participation, Beacon Impatiens will shine the light on The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA – US) and Friedreich Ataxia Research Association (fara – Australia) all year. This is a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder that affects one in 40,000 people globally. And it's thanks to amazing gardeners like you, enjoying Beacon in your own shady spaces, that our support is possible.