Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Ryker's Run

Today marks one year since our neighbor Aidan "Ryker" Schellings had a skateboarding accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. To mark the anniversary, he trained to run a one mile loop around our neighborhood, and so many people came out with masks on to cheer him on. Our neighborhood sure knows how to rally!! Posters, cowbells, sidewalk chalk, finish lines, medals and so many tears of joy!
(Quick side note: In March when he was still at the Aphasia Center in rehab, Aidan announced he is now “Ryker” (his middle name). He knows that “Aidan” is no longer the same person, so why not a new name to go with the new person he’s becoming.
Here's what his mom shared today:

And here's the news feature about it: 

painting posters yesterday afternoon 


the giant finish line painted in our back alley 

a photo finish (with Boston colors) 



Taylor and Josiah hanging out 6 feet apart before the race today 

hoping we are going to get this story on Some Good News with John Krasinski to promote helmet safety

I LOVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD! When Rebecca told us that Ryker was going to run a mile today, she let a few of us know, and it felt like the game of "YES" in Improv. 
Let's make a giant balloon arch over the whole street. YES! 
Let's use sidewalk chalk to make the finish line like the Boston Marathon finish on the street. YES! 
Let's draw hearts down the street all the way to the finish line. YES!
Let's have a bunch of kids make signs and have them all along the course! 
Let's have cowbells and pom poms. YES! 
Let's have a police car show up and be an escort for Ryker for the run. YES! 
Let's give Ryker a medal when he finishes the race. YES! 
Let's have a medal for Rebecca and Steve at the end too. YES! 
Let's invite as many neighbors as we can to join in the celebration. YES! 
YES! YES! YES! 
What joy today...

cheer squad 

news coverage 



Ryker and his brother Hendrick almost to the finish line 




Anna and our neighbor Tessa 

the Hokes 

the Petries 




the Kruse family 










the medal I gave to Ryker when he finished -- so fitting!! 


more pictures below from Steve Walker Photography: 

























King 5 coverage over the past year: 









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