LIVESTRONG CHALLENGE, THE BALECYCLE, AND THE PALMETTO PELOTON PROJECT

What a privilege it was to be on the Livestrong Challenge route on Sunday. We had the opportunity to meet some truly inspiring people. As a show of support, we built what we came to call the "balecycle," a huge bicycle with hay bales for wheels! One group of riders that stopped to have a laugh at the balecycle was a team from South Carolina riding as part of the Palmetto Peloton Project, a group that exists to promote the advancement of cancer research and advocacy efforts locally, regionally and nationally through fund-raising fitness events. For the Livestrong Challenge, this inspiring crew relayed on bicycles from Greenville, South Carolina to Austin. Their adventure began on October 17, and culminated on October 24 riding in the Livestrong Challenge in Dripping Springs. In the group that stopped to have their photo snapped on the Camp Lucy balecycle was Laurens Flanagan, who, last year, had just completed her second Livestrong Challenge bike ride when her cancer returned. She was in intensive care, lost all her hair to chemotherapy, and nearly died. This year, she's climbing on our balecycle and we couldn't be anymore proud! Thank you to the P3 riders for sharing part of your ride with us. The Statesman caught up with Laurens as well, read their article here. To learn more about the Palmetto Peloton Project and their Challenge to Conquer Cancer, visit p3ride.org. You can also learn more about their South Carolina to Austin journey on their dedicated blog ridetoaustin.com.

Camp Lucy *hearts* the Palmetto Peloton Project from South Carolina!