Very first blog

Hello!

My name is Erin (Bogan) Renard and this is my very first blog. I'm a 45 year old female living on a farm in western Kansas. Originally from the great state of New Jersey, I have been a Kansan since 1987.

Now my friends who know me can attest to my crazy ideas in the past, but this has topped them all. This summer I will be riding my bicycle from my farm in western Kansas to my family reunion in Princeton, NJ.

Why embark on such an adventure? It began last year when I announced I would once again not be attending the annual Bogan family reunion. I had recently completed my third BAK (Bicycling Across Kansas) and a cousin jokingly remarked that I "should ride my bike to the reunion."

Since then the wheels have been spinning (in my head, and on my bike) and I thought, why not? I can do 600 miles of mostly flat road riding in about a week, so I probably can do 2-3 weeks of the same.

Then the idea hit me to raise money for charity simutaneously. I have been actively involved with a few local charities, particularly the Northwest Kansas Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Inc., and have organized 6 biking events in the past, so I have a bit of experience in planning fundraisers.

In this case, choosing a cause was obvious. Sadly, in the Bogan family and so many others, family members have been afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease. The more I learn about this diesase, the more determined I am to finish this ride and raise awarness and funds for much needed research. Since announcing my plans to a few friends, I have realized just how many families are affected by this debilitating disease.

I am currently working with the Wichita Chapter to help me build a website allowing the accepting of donations and a running tally. I will be posting updates, photos, maps, and links all on this blog site. Stay tuned!

~e