Moment by Moment on The B.I.G. Ride
by Lee Anne & Ben Barry
Discover a story of tragedy, courage, hope, redemption, faith and love which brings a whole new awareness to traumatic brain injury.
WELCOME
Mission
The B.I.G. Ride is a non-profit cross- country bicycle tour to raise awareness of brain injuries and funds for brain injury programs. We stop in cities and towns along the way, at schools, media, businesses and churches to educate people about brain injury and the impact it can have on your life. Our goal is to encourage bike helmet and seat belt safety, as well as to inspire people living with a brain injury that their life can go on in a very meaningful way..
The B.I.G.
Ride 2010 was thefifth bi-annual cross-country
tour. From August 26th through November 14th, Ben Barry, along with various cyclists joining along
the way with different levels of abilities, rode
from Tustin, California to Charlotte North Carolina.
For two and a half months, twenty-one states, and over
six thousand miles, The B.I.G. Ride cycled
further and through more cities and town than any of our
previous tours.
We welcomed the people that joined us on our journey for whatever
distance they could. In 2001, in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, we had a group of children join The Big
Ride for two blocks, and in Portland, Maine, a group of
people with brain injuries joined The B.I.G. Ride as we
took a bike path around a bay.
There was media coverage during many of the outreach
functions at schools, hospitals, churches, etc. The
B.I.G. Ride also raised funds for brain injury
programs and organizations. 80% of the funds we raise as
we pass through a state are given to brain injury
programs in that state. 20% is given to the Brain Injury
Association of America.
Our
sponsors are the most vital part of The B.I.G. Ride. We
have been blessed in the past to have had Bellsouth
Pioneers and cycle teams as our largest sponsor. In 2005
they included in their contribution bike helmets to give
away. Coca-Cola Consolidated has made financial
contributions as well as providing us with an abundance
of water and other drinks. Atlantic Coast Foods has been
very generous to us over the years. And the countless
other people who have helped The B.I.G. Ride to complete
it's mission.