From: "Denise Gleavey" <Denise@...>

Date: June 19, 2009 12:42:06 PM PDT

To: <david.shalinsky@...>

Cc: <jrhatfield@...>, <dwhite7@...>, <jjhebert2005@...>, <friendsofbrailleinstitute@...>

Subject: request for help

Hello David,

 

My name is Denise Gleavey and my husband, Skip are cyclists here in San Diego. We have done many century rides and he has done several ½ ironmans & marathons.  On August 16, 2008 Skip crashed on his bicycle while riding in the Cool Breeze Century… he became a paraplegic and our lives as we once knew them were forever changed.  It’s only been 10 months since his accident and he is now ready to start living and competing as a Challenged Athlete.  He would like to do the Solana Beach Tri as his first event on July 26^th.  We don’t have a lot of time for training in 5 short weeks.

 

I am writing because we are looking for two (2) tandem size wheel trays for our traditional bike roof rack by Thule.  I am told by our neighbor who is also a cyclist and engineer we can configure the roof rack to hold a hand cycle for Skip & still hold my bike.  We can use Yakima parts as well.  We only have a Toyota Camry and it will be several months or longer before we are able to afford another vehicle for Skip to use that will enable him to carry a hand cycle and start his training.  Because the hand cycles are so long this is why we need the tandem size wheel trays (something 65” to 78”) to mount to the current crossbars on the roof rack.  We have sent out emails to all of our friends and Team In Training Alumni group but no one has any tandem trays to donate or purchase at a low costs.

 

Could you ask your tandem bike club to see if anyone has these items?  It takes about 10 business days to order them new and honestly we really can not afford to buy 2 new ones.   In the long term, he will have his own vehicle and we won’t be using my Camry for training or traveling to events.  We thought we could reach out to our cycle community and ask if anyone has an extra tray lying around they aren’t using anymore or is at least willing to sell at a low costs.  If so, we would greatly appreciate the kind help,

 

If anyone has a tray, they can call me at 858-565-7777 or email me at Denise@... and I would be happy to meet them anywhere to arrange pick up.

 

God Bless!

Thank you so very much for your help.

Denise Gleavey