NAMI Bicycle Tour

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Dedicated NAMI members, leaders, and friends work tirelessly across all levels to meet a shared NAMI mission of support, education, advocacy, and research for people living with mental illness.

This was the second year for the NAMI Tour in Pampa, Texas. Volunteers and supporters arrived Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 6:00 a.m. for registration. The 119 registrants had donuts and coffee while waiting for the 8:00 a.m. start. That number is a 26% increase over last years Tour. A bicycle, five helmets, fenders, water bottles, and many other bicycle related items were given away as prizes to riders from Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Dallas/Ft. Worth and all over the Texas panhandle. Seasoned riders had 4 distances from 10 to 68 miles to choose from, and the young ones where allowed to ride their bikes and play in the parking lot while waiting. As the Tour started with cheers from the onlookers, the volunteers started preparing hamburgers, and iced down drinks for their return. Five rest stops and SAG (support/assistance/gear for riders who have had to stop riding due to fatigue, injury, or mechanical failure) was also provided by volunteers. Three massage therapists were available to help with those overworked muscles after the ride.

The weather was perfect. We all had a great time and benefited a worthy cause. Thank you to everyone involved for making this another safe and successful panhandle event.