*** A ride for Jill: Bicyclist 'taken too quickly' ***

CASHMERE, WASHINGTON -- 07/09/2004
They came to honor a fellow bicyclist and to show support for her
family.

Nineteen cyclists completed a four-mile ride this morning, beginning and

ending at Bob's Apple Barrel, to honor Jill Spanjer, who was killed on
June 24 as she was riding her bike on Highway 2/97. The 17-year-old
driver of the truck that hit her told authorities he fell asleep at the
wheel.

Nancy Smith, executive director of the Wenatchee Valley Sports
Council, worked across the hall from Spanjer, who was executive
director of the Wenatchee Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Smith said Spanjer was new to cycling -- it was only about six
months ago that she helped Spanjer pick out a bike and buy accessories.

Beginning at 6:30 a.m. today, Smith and the other cyclists followed
the path that Spanjer took that morning, stopping for a moment at
the memorial cross placed along the highway where Spanjer was struck.

"Here's to a new bike enthusiast taken too quickly,"
Smith said to the other riders.

Travis Fox, a fellow cyclist and member of Spanjer's church,
said he didn't know Spanjer personally, but he knew who she
was. Fox lives in Cashmere and said he often rides on the same
section of road where Spanjer was struck.

"It hit a nerve," Fox said.
"It could have been any one of us at any time."

More than anything, Fox said, he wanted to show
his support for the family and let them know there
was a group that cares about them.

He said this morning's ride was sad -- and emotional.

"I feel bad for both families involved," Fox said.
"It's a bad situation for everybody."

Smith also accepted donations this morning, and hopes to use
the money to connect the Old Monitor Loop with the road near
the Tree Top processing plant so cyclists can travel from
Wenatchee to Leavenworth without getting on the highway.

Geneb...Wenatchee,Washington-USA
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