The Photo Gallery – 15% of print sales are donated to the Kelly Brush Foundation!
Last weekend I was lucky enough to photograph the 6th annual Kelly Brush Century Ride. Local photographer Emily McManamy helped me out and we had a beautiful day to work with.
The Kelly Brush Century Ride raised a record amount and drew the largest turnout in the six year history of the annual event held in Middlebury, Vt.
The 100-mile ride raised over $275,000 for spinal cord injury prevention, adaptive sports and ski racing safety. A total of 721 riders participated in the scenic ride through the Champlain Valley.
The largest fundraising ride in the state, the Kelly Brush Century Ride is also one of the best attended rides in the Northeast for handcyclists. This year 24 participants rode the course on handcycles.
The 100-mile ride raises money to support the Kelly Brush Foundation’s multi-faceted mission including: improving ski racing safety, enhancing the quality of life for those with SCI through adaptive sports equipment grants, advancing scientific research on SCI and supporting the U.S. Adaptive Ski Team.
For every $5,000 raised, the foundation donates adaptive sports equipment in the name of the team or individual who raised the money. In addition, funds raised support ski racing safety grants awarded to clubs and racing organizations across the country for safety equipment such as netting to line race courses and protective gear for racers.
The Kelly Brush Century Ride was started by the Middlebury College Ski Team as a way to raise money to buy an adaptive mono-ski for team member Kelly Brush, who was paralyzed as the result of a ski racing crash. Brush and her family later founded a non-profit, and the ride was opened to the public.
Kelly Brush and her dad Charlie Brush, right before they started their 28-mile ride to Button Bay State Park.
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The ride featured numerous distances to suit all tastes.
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Addison County is such a beautiful place for a ride like this. Looks were deceiving as riders faced a 10 to 15 mph headwind on the north run.
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Button Bay State Park was the end of the 28-mile leg for riders and hand cyclists, though several hand cyclists continued on for 50 miles.
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A view of Camels Hump I don’t see very often.
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Love that mustache!
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Kelly and Charlie Brush approach Button Bay State Park. .jpg "KBF_CHAWLA_478_087")
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This rider complete the 50-mile loop on a unicycle. .jpg "KBF_CHAWLA_534_090")
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