Last week, the Lamborghini Batman reminded us how important real-life superheroes are. There are all sorts of superheroes out there in the world doing good, but only some of them wear brightly-colored spandex biking shorts.
Carter and his grandfather, Jerry. (Photo courtesy: Facebook)
Meet cyclist and extended Matchmaker family member, Facility Manager “Cap’n’ Pete Staylor”. Some of you might remember Pete – we’ve introduced him once before in a Thought for the Weekend. Pete has taken his love of cycling and done something amazing with it, turning his stamina and speed on the bike into money raised for great causes.
Pete’s dealt with his own super villain for many years now – arthritis. After seeing his mother and father cope with the disease, Pete also developed arthritis thirteen years ago. In fact, he started riding bikes because arthritis in his knees prevented him from playing his favorite sport, basketball. For the past twelve years, he has fought back the best way he knows how, raising money for a cure with a yearly 525-mile bike trek down the California coast – the Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic. This year, at age 62 and after a knee replacement last year, Pete will do two rides (one in CA; the other in OR) for a total of 888 miles in just 14 days!
I don’t know about you, but from where I’m sitting, an 888-mile ride looks like a superpower to me! Like any good hero, Pete’s out to help more than just himself. Meet Carter. At only five years old, Carter’s an arthritis sufferer too (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis or JIA). Pete and 46 other riders have joined forces to ride for Carter as the Agents of Awesomeness. Carter’s a superhero fanatic, so a team of his very own avengers seemed fitting. A kid after our own hearts!
For Pete and Carter, we’re putting our money where our hearts are. Cap’n Pete has until September 12th to start his ride, and he’s looking to raise $25,000 for the Arthritis Foundation. He’s already raised over $6100 for Carter’s ride, and we want to help.
For each dollar Thought for the Weekend readers donate to Cap’n Pete and Carter’s cause, we’ll match it (up to $500). All together, the Agents of Awesomeness are looking to raise $125,000 – funds that will be used to finance research to find a cure for all arthritis sufferers, including little Carter.
If you’d like to make a contribution, you can do so here* – but don’t forget to earmark your donation with Matchmaker Logistics or Superheroes of Shipping, so we can match it! And if you want to keep up with the Agents of Awesomeness on their ride, you can follow them on Facebook and watch these superheroes bring smiles to Carter’s face with every mile.
Keep on pedalin’ and be an Agent of Awesomeness this weekend,
~Bob
