It’s not every day you meet a multiple gold medal winning
Olympian. And a winner of marathons in Chicago and London. Members of the
Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak Bicycle Racing team not only got to meet Tatyana McFadden,
but rode alongside her on Sunday, April 28th.
For the past ten years, Beverly Bike and Ski Shop owner Paul
Weise has helped sponsor the American Cancer Society’s annual Walk and Roll in
downtown Chicago. This year’s was no different: Paul once again provided any needed
repairs to riders in the 15K charity bike ride event. What would be different
this time around was the inclusion of paralympian Tatyana McFadden, who serves
as an ambassador for BP. Fresh off her wins in the Boston and London Marathon
women’s wheelchair division, Tatyana was escorted along the course in Chicago
by members of the Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak team. Other members patrolled the course
to help out any participants in case of mechanical or medical incidents.
“Yeah, we are a race team, but it’s not always about going
fast. It’s about going the distance. Just like Tatyana and the American Cancer
Society,” said Beverly team president Bob Murray after he and other members of
the team escorted the gold medal winner around the course. Although the team
has won numerous state championships on the road and dirt, helping out at the
annual Walk and Roll is something the whole team makes a commitment to attend
when the yearly calendar is set in January.
With Paul’s wrenching experience and the team’s patrolling
for riders in need, it’s safe to say the Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak Racing team will
be helping out for another ten years and beyond.
