Where: Hille Windmill Ranch- ‘Mandan Meander’2019 Ride Journal
Total length: 150 miles
When: May 18-May 27, 20192019 Roger’s Journal
The 2019 Trails4Transplants trail ride commenced May 18th at the Hille Windmill Ranch south of Mandan, ND, and concluded 150 miles later at the same location. This was the seventh leg of the planned 2,000 mile trek, and marked 2175 miles completed.
The venue for the 2019 ride was a bit different than previous years. It was a great reunion for all riders and volunteers to come together to celebrate six years of hard work and dedication to the T4T mission. It included an honor ride for John Schwartzbauer, a local young father and husband who passed and donated organs so that others would benefit. Recent and re-occuring rains made driving to the ranch difficult, so 6 horse trailers were staged at Roger and Julie Hille’s yard, and groups were joined for daily rides and evening festivities.
Gift of Life Transplant House was able to complete their patio in 2019 from contributions made by T4T.
2019 Achievements:
- Media coverage throughout the ride included 15 newspapers with 10 front page stories, 3k Facebook followers, and two TV news reports.
- Gift of Life Transplant House completed their patio
- $20,000 raised for the Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, MN
- $6,500 given in support of organ recipients and donor families.
- Supported the DonateLife Tree during the ND Hall of Trees – a Christmas tree display at the ND capitol that draws in thousands of visitors. This tree will honor organ, eye, and tissue donors as well as recognize North Dakota transplant recipients who have been blessed to receive these life-saving gifts. Families can create an ornament in honor of their loved one.
