By Michael Johnson
PULASKI, NY – As the sun settles and the shadows deepen in the thick woods of Winona State Forest Saturday evening, a single headlight will cut through the darkness.
The hum of knobby tires will break the silence as 61 year old Pat McFalls starts another lap in his 24-hour long ride in hopes of raising funds to help his family pay for his grandson’s hospital bills.
“I really have an appetite for events and races,” McFalls said, “so I thought this would be a great way for me to raise funds to help my grandson, [Soren.]”
Soren McFalls of Newfane, Vermont, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on June 5, 2020. He was admitted to Dartmouth Hospital about an hour away from his home. Against the landscape of the pandemic, this situation is compounded by new complexities.
In order to maintain Soren’s treatment, Soren’s mother has left her job as a preschool director. Due to concerns about COVID-19 and his weakened immune system, his 4-year-old sister was pulled from preschool.
Soren has an intense treatment plan set for the next few months and his doctors expect chemotherapy to continue for several years.
McFalls will be riding to raise funds to support Soren’s hospital bills and the family’s expenses as they adjust to life with this diagnosis on a single-income. Pledges-per-mile are being accepted at https://pledgeit.org/cycleforsoren.
A resident of Pennellville, McFalls is a frequent visitor to the trails of Winona State Forest, using the ample system of truck trails and single-track as a place to train, and offering his time and energy to maintain the trails and operate snow grooming equipment during the winter sports season.
The Winona Forest Trails will provide an excellent venue for this event, as there is no restriction on night-time usage, which is not usually the case with many other parks and trail systems.
Each lap McFalls rides during the event will cover 14.5 miles and require him to climb 1,000 feet in elevation. While McFalls expects to be accompanied by friends and supporters for some trips around the course, he knows that he will be alone for much of the effort.
Alone but not alone, as his grandson Soren will always be with him in spirit as he pedals, providing a type of motivation that only a grandfather can understand.
“One week after Soren’s diagnosis, my family suggested doing this as a means to raise money,” McFalls said.
Family support has played a big role in the planning and preparation for the event.
“My son, Shane, is an artist, and he has designed a commemorative jersey for the ride,” McFalls said.
A matching jersey will be awarded to the supporter that guesses the closest to the number of laps completed in 24 hours. Mc Falls has also enjoyed the support and sponsorship of Fast Eddie’s Bike Shop of Oswego and locally owned Stickboy Coffee.
“I am very thankful for the support of these businesses and my family, and I have also been uplifted by the constant outpouring of positive energy from the Central New York cycling community,” McFalls said.
Riding for hour after hour over rugged forest trails requires abundant energy, and maintaining that energy requires nutrition.
“I will have a number of options available during the ride,” McFalls said,”The weather and the way I am feeling will dictate what I consume, and how much… I plan on eating some solid food every four hours, and I also find that decarbonated cola works for me.”
Infinite Nutrition Fluid will be a mainstay, along with a dose of pickle juice at regular intervals to reduce cramping.
Finding the motivation to keep riding long after the body says that it is time to stop is an enormous challenge for endurance athletes, but McFalls does not think that he will struggle to find the energy to continue deep inside of himself on this ride.
“A game of mental gymnastics is played as the hours stretch on, but you learn how to block out worry and not get caught up in any inner chatter,” McFalls said. “After a while, I enter a state of flow, and I am able to focus on something I experience along the way, such as the screech of a Barred Owl.”
If these techniques fall short, McFalls has another ace in the hole to keep the wheels turning: thoughts of the struggle of his grandson, Soren.
“This experience has taught me that your health is everything, and I should have no problem staying motivated,” McFalls said.
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