Welcome to our Celebration of Life and Ride for Roy Derr Meetup group!
This is Jerald and welcome to September!
First of all I want to thank you ALL for the wonderful comments about Roy. He genuinely cared about all of the PPRAC Riders and we felt your support as we went through the almost 2-year battle – he felt your love and support along with the people who helped me take care of him.
I wanted to update you on the Celebration of Life and Ride for Roy planned on Saturday September 21st. Thanks to Eric Loch and Stephanie White we have created a ride and celebration on that Saturday just like Roy had expressed in his wishes. The ride will start at the Emmaus Community Park (time to be announced), head towards Powder Valley, and include the infamous Shimmerville hill. Even though Roy “cranked” hills he always hated that particular hill - but when we were home in Florida he complained about how flat FL is!
As part of the celebration my cousin, Rev. Tyrone Thompson, will be saying a few words about Roy as for 22 years Roy and I ate Thanksgiving dinner at my family’s house in Ocean City NJ – and Roy absolutely loved the time he spent there during the holidays – and the food as we all know Roy loved to eat!
I have reached out to the Brass Rail and the owners Mark and Lee have agreed to help provide us with food for the event and we will also have drinks and all the fixings for Roy’s Celebration. Many of Roy’s Brass Rail friends will also be stopping by for the celebration. Please note this is a BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair) event!
Note riders that you are free to use my showers at my house – it’s the least I can do for you as you show your love and support of Roy!
I also have Roy’s last PPRAC jersey and I am going to ask everyone who attends to sign it so I can have it framed – my plan (in the works) is to have some of his Legos, which he was so very proud of, displayed at the Children’s Hospital along with his jersey so kids can see a little about this proud man who selfishly completed 14 PPRAC Rides in support of cancer!
I have created a Meet Up Even for this entitled Celebration of Life and Ride for Roy. Please feel free to sign up there or reach out to Eric and Stephanie – all riders have received an email; a brochure will follow very soon for the event!
Thank you all so very much for your love and friendship for Roy and support of him during his battle. I look forward to seeing you on the 21st as we celebrate this incredible PPRAC Rider and our hopes for a cure!
Peace and be well!
Jerald
