Community members hit the trail Saturday to show support and raise funds for a local girl with leukemia.
Grace Lutheran Church and School in La Plata, in partnership with A Message of Hope Cancer Fund an organization that helps defray costs for cancer patients hosted a charity bike ride and walk called the Ride-4-Fun & Fitness on the Indian Head Rail Trail in White Plains.
The walk was in support of Madison “Maddie” Major, 6, a student at the Grace Lutheran School.
Maddie attended the Christian school for kindergarten last year, but due to her illness missed several months and has not been able to attend this year.
School staff said Saturday that she still is very much a part of the school.
“This whole thing is for Maddie and her family,” said Raquel Sweeney, 11.
Maddie was able to attend the ride Saturday; she rode in a stroller while many family members and friends walked with her.
Maddie’s mother, Robyn Major, said the event was uplifting.
The family, she said, has been dealing with Maddie’s condition for three years and while Maddie is always able to turn to her family for support, “We really turn to everybody else for our support.”
Major said the family is very thankful to Grace Luthern Church and School and the entire Charles County community for showing so much support.
And judging by the turnout Saturday, support from the community was not hard to come by.
Randy Davis, event coordinator and co-chairman, said 233 people registered to ride Saturday, and while donations are still coming in, $9,000 already has been collected.
Participant Shelby Neal, 8, said all the money would go toward Maddie’s “sickness and surgeries.”
Davis said for years he has wanted to organize a charity ride. With the help of Grace Lutheran pastor, Charles Long, all the cards came together for a ride this year.
Davis said he called around to various charities to see about supporting a cause specific to Charles County. Coming up short, he said, he once again turned to the church and school for guidance and Maddie’s name came up.
Davis said his small dream to organize a bike ride turned out to make a dream come true for a local family.
Aside from riding and walking, the charity bike ride offered entertainment, food and information on health and fitness.
Civista Medical Center, La Plata Physical Therapy, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and other organizations and local businesses had booths set up at the White Plains trail access giving out food, brochures and information.
Sheriff’s officers were on hand to register bikes for theft prevention and Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey (D) participated in the morning’s walk.
Southern Maryland Blue Crab’s mascot Pinch made an appearance Saturday, which Davis said was a great addition to the event.
Dan Stine, co-chairman for the event, said the charity ride was a “testimony to how the community can come together to help someone.”
Stine, who is on the leadership team at Grace Lutheran School said he saw a level of compassion he didn’t know existed in Charles County.
A presentation for the family to receive the charity ride funds is scheduled for Sunday at the church.
gphillips@somdnews.com
