The 6th Annual David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride benefiting Camp Agape invites you to join their cause on July 9, 2011.
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with Maegan Eikenburg, one of the daughters of David Eikenburg and also one of the organizers of the David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.
Who is “David”?
David, the pastor, was a man who touched everyone he met. He had the biggest heart of gold. He was willing to help the homeless on the street as well as the man who had everything. He was no respecter of persons. David had an excitement and relentless energy that overflowed to the congregation. He loved the Lord and he spent day-in day-out doing what Jesus would do. He would sit with the family during a critical surgery, hold the hand of a friend dying of cancer, take a blind lady to the store for groceries, buy a tank of gas for the down and out, organize a group to help a widow move, visit the stranger in the jail, rescue a teenager in trouble, and with his unyielding strength, he was there during a crisis for whatever was needed. David loved missions and during his ministry, he organized and participated in many mission trips to Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.
How long has the event been around and how did it start?
This marks the sixth annual David’s Ride. This ride was started to honor our beloved pastor, father, husband and friend, David Eikenburg, who died tragically in a cycling accident on July 11, 2005. He died doing what he loved, but his first love and passion was to share the love of Jesus. Every year we honor him with this bike ride, remembering what he loved, and then to glorify God by continuing David’s legacy and passion for spreading the Good News to people everywhere.
What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
After experiencing such a tragic loss in our family, we saw the need to support a ministry that would reach children that have experienced the loss of a loved one. Often times when a family experiences death, the focus is on the adults and the children are left behind and confused. Camp Agape provides an environment where children are surrounded with other children who are also grieving. Our family believes in the mission of Camp Agape and is committed to making sure no child is left behind in the event of a death in the family. All proceeds go to Camp Agape, a Christian bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one.
How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
All funds raised from David’s Ride are donated to Camp Agape, a Christian bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one. It costs approximately $200 for 1 camper to attend the camp and is free of charge for the camper. With the money donated from last year’s ride we were able to sponsor 20 children and assist in the healing of their hurting hearts.
Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
An event of this magnitude takes countless hours of planning and many volunteers to execute. In regards to funds, we tend to operate on a very small budget. We try not to lose sight of the fact that the money we raise (minus our expenses) go to benefit young lives who might have lost a significant loved one in their lives just like David’s daughters did.
What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
The most rewarding experience for our family is at the beginning of the event. We all stand together and take the site in, knowing that all these riders are riding for David, when he can’t. We say a prayer for the safety of the riders and then the ride begins. It is absolutely breath taking to see all the riders take off into the sunrise.
How many riders do you assist during the average race?
We anticipate 400 riders this year.
What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event? (prefer the rewarding/unforgettable experience ;o))
The most unforgettable experience was in 2007 a huge thunder storm came into the area the early morning of our ride. We prayed and miraculously the rain ceased and storm moved on 5 minutes before the ride started. The weather was cool and lightly breezy and made for an awesome day.
What can folks do to support you and your mission?
We are a nonprofit organization; therefore, we do not have a large marketing budget. We rely primarily on word of mouth advertizing. So the biggest support we could get is spreading the word about David’s Ride. Other ways that people can support David’s Ride is through donations and volunteering their time on the day of the event.
What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
Our family is the core team of David’s Ride. We raise the funds, mark the routes, design the t-shirts, advertise the ride throughout the nation, gather volunteers and above all promote cycling for Christ.
Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?
I (Maegan — one of David’s daughters) started cycling after my father’s accident. I wanted to participate in the ride because it made me feel close to my dad. I ride a Trek. I’ve ridden several of the routes for over the years, but my favorite is the 70 mile route. All the routes follow back country roads with rest stops at local churches. It is neat to see my dad’s legacy throughout the ride in many different areas.
Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides in Texas (besides your own)?
MS150 (Houston to Austin, TX), Goatneck (Cleburne, TX) and Hotter n Hell (Whichita Falls, TX)
Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about?
Every year it amazes me the great feedback for our riders. Below is a ride review that we received from a cyclist in 2009.
The David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride is definitely a ride to remember. It is not only a ride that remembers a great man who left a wonderful legacy but it is a ride that you must remember to mark your calendars for next year, July 10th, 2010. This year’s ride hit an all time high with a record number of 250 riders.
This was my 1st year to ride in the bike ride and I was a little scared of what might be to come but what a great experience it turned out to be. The staff and volunteers were all so friendly and encouraging, from the moment I walked up to register until the time I crossed the finish line and enjoyed a wonderful free BBQ lunch. The scenery was beautiful. Empty winding roads through Texas farmlands that don’t necessary go anywhere in particular. As I rode the ride I wasn’t sure exactly where I was going but the routes were marked with paint on the pavement and color coded signs on the side of the road. Those who organized this ride hit the markings right on the nose. The directions were easy to follow and clearly marked at each turn. It was so wonderful to see all of God great creations and to ride the same roads that David Eikenburg once road. I felt like I was able to share the road with him as I pedaled my heart out. Each ride was supported by numerous rest stops. To say the rest stops were awesome is not enough. The rest stops were stocked with plenty of sandwiches, cookies, and fruit slices. It was so encouraging to pull into a rest stop and have the volunteers cheer for you, but it didn’t stop there because as soon as we stopped the volunteers ran up and filled our water bottles with Gatorade and water as we rested up for the next leg of the ride. This was so encouraging especially during those times when I thought I just couldn’t go any further. The ride was also supported by SAG support and a bike technician that was able to meet any rider during the ride to fix flat tires or bike problems.
What made the David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride even more special was the charity all the proceeds go to. Camp Agape is a free Christian bereavement camp for children who have lost a loved one. The David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride had all the trimmings and I felt pampered the whole time. One thing I have learned is that all rides are different but this one left me with a great feeling in my heart because it was put on by a Christian family that not only wants to remember their husband, father and friend but they want to continue his legacy by sharing the love of God with all those around them.
Thanks Maegan Eikenburg for this quick interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!
Click here to view the event details of the 6th Annual David Eikenburg Memorial Bike Ride