This is how it all got started:
Gerry Zimmermann
I was diagnosed in 1997 with leukemia. It was Christmas Eve. I had driven my family, Helen my wife and my children, Hannah (2 ½) and Dylan (1), to Buffalo where my parents live and I grew up. I had to call the Doctor to get the confirmation from the bone marrow aspiration that I had the day before. The call confirmed that it was a fact that I had Chronic Mylocytic Leukemia. The Doctor told me a bone marrow transplant was the only cure. He said that ten years would be a long time for me to last on interferon treatments. I didn’t know what to do. We just tried to get through Christmas and stay focused. The next two years were a challenge for my whole family (including my parents, brothers and sister, my aunt, cousins).
I was lucky to find a donor on the bone marrow bank with a perfect match for my marrow. I called friends and family to see if I should take the 70% chance of making it through a bone marrow transplant or relishing in the couple of years I had left to be with my wife and children. My feeling was that I owed it to my family to give it all I had! So I did! I am still here.
Bikes That Heal is my way of giving back to the people who have been affected by Leukemia and Lymphoma through diagnosis or having a family or friend diagnosed. It is difficult to go through for the patient, but even more difficult for the spouse and children to endure. I always thought about my wife thinking that she would soon be alone with the kids, and how she would get by. I know that many families today are dealing with these same thoughts. Maybe Bikes That Heal can help prevent that from happening to other families. Please do anything you can to help find more cures for these horrible and devastating diseases. Bikes That Heal has taken so much commitment from Helen, Danny, Craig, my brother Bill and my cousin Lauren. I can’t thank them enough for the dedication and heart that they have put into getting this foundation up and running. Thank you! Thank you to the sponsors who believed in the idea for helping with the generous donations to get the bikes rolling. Thank you!
Craig W. Shankles
Mr. Shankles received his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from SUNY New Paltz in 1978. He has owned several successful business in his career. In 1979 he was brought on board to help turn around a local failing movie theatre. In 1 year he was to turn the operation into a profitable venture simply by changing its venue to one that addressed the local college demographics. In 1980 he and his wife opened a Printing and Graphics business, which they still owns and operate to this day. In 1990 he opened a second Printing operation in Tucson Arizona. That operation was recognized by the city of Tucson in it’s “Best of Rewards” in1993 as being one of the top 5 business printers out of 200 that existed in the Greater Tucson area. He sold this profitable operation in 1995 and focused more on his New Paltz operation and to become more involved with local community needs. In the years that followed he’s has been very active in the New Paltz Chamber. He has been a primary force and voice in “Clean Sweep” an annual community clean up drive that brings out approximately 400 people each spring to clean the streets of New Paltz. He sits on the Chambers planning committee for it’s annual Gala Dinner which celebrates the New Paltz business community. He sits on the Chambers committee for it’s largest fund raiser “A Taste of New Paltz” which is a one day event that celebrates life in New Paltz. This event draws approximately 6000 people. In 2005 he took over as chair for the fifth “Business Expo” for the Chamber held at the Fair grounds and succeeded in making it the best attended Expo to date. He served as a board member on The Arts Society of Kingston for 2 years and was then elected to President for an additional 2 years. He presently is a board member on the New Paltz Community Foundation. A non profit organization who’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the New Paltz region by helping raise monies for worth while projects within the community. Mr. Shankles presently sits on the board of the SUNY New Paltz Gala celebration which holds an annual dinner to honor the outstanding achievements and contributions of important local people. Proceeds of this event go into an endowed fund and are used for scholarships. Mr Shankles was an honored “ Man of the Year” in 2006 by the Ulster County Girl Scouts for his community services. Mr Shankles is spear heading a group to raise monies to revitalize a 100 + year old park in the middle of it’s community. This project will run over 5 years and will require large sums of money. The out come of this project is not just to add additional recreational opportunities for our residents and visitors but is to create a Park that will be recognized as a world class design, with good stewardship and stand as an example to others, as to what can be done with a good understanding of ones community and it’s needs..
Danny Brennan
Is the owner of the Bicycle Depot in New Paltz New York . I became involved with Bikes That Heal last year my contributions so far include gathering and repairing bicycles , I also promote a century ride every year with the proceeds going to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am also interested in board position with bikes that heal with an aim to help the organization grow . You don't have to look far to find someone who has been affected by this disease, hopefully we can help raise money for a cure!
