I joined Western Track Mission just before the mission decided to participate in the cyclathon. On Wednesday morning we always have a prayer time before we go on to correct Bible lessons. At my first prayer meeting the cyclathon was announced. God began to stir my heart.

My youngest son Mark was killed in a car accident on July 15, 2000 at the age of seventeen. From the time Mark was around 12 years old every year he would ask me to let him go on a cyclathon where you camped along the way. I never felt comfortable letting him go, so he never did get to enjoy the experience.

So when I heard the words "cyclathon" my ears and heart went on alert. Just maybe this was God's way of redeeming Mark's wish and to furthering His kingdom. I knew I could never ride 211 km alone, but if my family would each help do a part, it could be done. So I went home trusting that if God was in it, it would all work out.

So here I was a 52 years old women (quite out of shape) and with no riding experience, about to ride in a cyclathon. I had begun to walk an hour a day a few months before. Unknown to me God had already begun to get me ready. So with only a desire to spread the Gospel and to ride in my son's memory, the plans began to unfold for the ride. I took Mark's old bike out of the shed and I began to ride. I was beginning to get very excited. How great is our God!

My husband agreed to be my fundraiser and riding coach (18 gears). My sons and grandson agreed to ride. Things were falling into place. Only one hitch, we were leaving for holidays the day of the ride, it was decided that we would ride then leave. Now to pray for good weather.

The morning of the ride arrived with the sun shining and it was going to be a nice day. Praise God. I had broken the ride up for our family into smaller parts, my part of the ride was 42 km. We met at Borden at 7:00 am. Here we joined with the team of three, plus one other rider. Earl Klassen from BC was our leader. We began with a Bible reading and prayer. Then off we went.

Our bikes weren't the best but they would do the job. We thought we lived in flat Saskatchewan until we began to ride and my husband joked, "Where did all these mountains come from?"

We had a great group to ride with. Snacks and supplies were plentiful. I also got a lot of riding tips; keep toes only on peddles, don't keep arms in locked position and keep them tucked in, also don't bend the wrists. See Earl, I actually did learn something even though I'm not sure how good of a pupil I was. It was fun.

The scenery and peace along the ride was so enjoyable. Doing this ride in our son's memory and for such a good cause made it all worthwhile. There were a few times I wondered if we were going to make it but with the crews' encouragement we kept on.

Our grandson even took time to do a few "pop-wheelies" as he rode with his aging grandparents. Oh, for the energy of youth. We finished our ride and had an >enjoyable lunch with the Stobbes.

Our Part is Finished! (posing with Support Staff)



Our sons, Jody, Collin and Mike, finished the ride on Sunday morning

So if you are thinking of doing a cyclathon find a cause you believe in and join this Christian Cycling Connection. You may want to divide the ride up like we did, to make it possible. When you're done the ride you will feel so good for accomplishing your goal and knowing you have helped further the Lord's work.

I'm so glad I did the ride as is each member of our family. I know we blessed Western Track Mission and from the fundraising, they now have the resources to print tracks that will reach the unsaved. For us an added bonus was to redeem Mark's wish to ride in a Cyclathon. I asked God to let him know what his mother, father and family did in memory of the second anniversary of his departure into heaven.

I thought this would be a one-time ride. But on our ride Earl suggested that we change the name of the ride from The Flatlanders Challenge to the Mark Jenkins Memorial Ride. Regardless of whether the name is changed or not, I think we will be involved for a long time. My prayer is that God will continue to use this ride to raise money to spread the gospel of Jesus.

Read Barb's Personal Testimony

Read Mark's Story

Prayer of Supplication by Mark Jenkins