Press Release 09.22.2005
Race for Jake:
The Lodi Farm Race
by Tom Houff
All the headaches that come with putting together a bike race is usually done for the benefit of the teams. The Lodi Farm Race is named to reflect a different purpose.
Team Bike Works and the Fredericksburg Cyclists Cannonball Century presents, the “Lodi Race for Jake!” benefit Mountain Bike Race for the Jacob Walther Trust. The race will be held Saturday, October 1.
Rob Suydam says riders can expect the same trails as the 12-hours at Lodi race from the past seven or so years.
Or, as Team Bike Work’s Greg Coron describes it “mostly resembles a tight and twisty green tunnel of a roller-coaster with no extended climbs but plenty-o-grunt climbs, smooth and rolling with some roots but few rock, throw in some farm road sections to break up the tight single track and you have 8 miles of old school crankin’ fun.”
“Throw in the scenic views of Mother Nature and flowing stream crossings that change with the weather and you truly have the beauty of Lodi Farm,” said one of the race organizers Phil Rice.
“We all wanted to do something for Jake,” Suydam said. He added he has known the family since Suydam, Coron and Bill Evans began Team Bike Works back in the early 1990s. Jake’s father, Randy, is a popular, retired sales rep for some well known cycling companies.
Jake Walther sits through his new routine while recovering from an injury that left him a quadriplegic. Team Bikes Works, of Fredericksburg, will hold Lodi Race for Jake!” benefit Mountain Bike Race for the Jacob Walther Trust Saturday, October 1 to help raise money for Jake. (photo from http://hopeforjake.blogspot.com)
According to Fredericksburg’s Free Lance Star, Stafford County’s Jacob Walther, while working as a circus lighting technician with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, crashed his motorcycle. The accident left “energetic 23-year-old” paralyzed without the use of his arms or legs.
Suydam said the word is Jake has hope because his spinal cord and sheath were not cut.
Dr. Matt Marchal of Altius Family and Sports Medicine said, “The spine is the protective case for this delicate cord, but sometimes with significant trauma the cord can be suddenly damaged by the bony spine. The location of the injury determines the problems the person has.”
The Free Lance-Star continues, “Jake injured three cervical vertebrae in his spinal column. The three bones that were damaged control the diaphragm, upper-body muscles and wrist extensors.
The newspaper added, “Everything below Jake's spinal injury also is affected: the triceps, fingers, hands, hips, legs and feet.”
“Spinal cord injuries are some of the most tragic because they immediately change an independent, active person’s life to one of adjustments and dependence. There is often a significant physical, psychological and monetary impact of one of these injuries. Not only do you have the cost of the hospitalization, but the rehabilitation, and accommodations that have to be made can become a huge financial burden,” said Marchal
Anyone who would like to learn more about Jake can visit his web-site at http://hopeforjake.blogspot.com
Anyone who would like to learn more about the race can visit www.teambikeworks.org
