ADDISON COUNTY — This past Saturday, 700 riders and 100 volunteers came together to raise over $425,000 at the 11th Annual Kelly Brush Ride powered by VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations.
Brush was a Middlebury College skier in 2006 when she was injured in a ski accident, and then started a foundation to help others with similar injuries take part in sports. The money will be used to help purchase adaptive sports equipment for people with spinal cord injuries and safety equipment for alpine ski race programs.
Among the 700 participants were 30 people — including Kelly Brush herself — powering handcycles.
The ride featured rides of 25, 50 and 100 miles, all starting at Middlebury College.
“This year’s Kelly Brush Ride was a huge success both in how much fun was had by all riders and the record amount we raised to enable the Kelly Brush Foundation to do even more to improve the quality of life for those with paralysis and allow us to continue to raise the bar when it comes to safety in ski racing, “ said Zeke Davisson, executive director of the Kelly Brush Foundation.  
The ride was made even more inspiring by the impressive effort of handcyclists Geoff Krill of Woodstock, New Hampshire, and Mike Wade of Silver Lake, New Hampshire, who completed the entire 100-mile route.