Green Bay Cycles Owner to Bike Across China for Charity

Pam Faulkner, who co-owns Green Bay Cycles with her husband Larry, will be biking 300 miles in six days to raise funds for Women V Cancer — throughout the country side in China.

The ride, which Faulkner is currently raising funds for, will take place in Sept. of 2014 and aims to raise money for the women's cancer charity. Faulkner has completed one international ride with Women V Cancer before, in a ride through Kenya.

Faulkner noted that bicycles give you a unique way to take in the culture of a foreign country.

"You see these great, majestic sites which is fabulous, but you also...have the personal interaction that you don't get on a tour bus," Faulkner said, referencing the connections she makes with locals across the land, whether it's through them helping change a bike tire or stopping to take a photo.

"It's so personal — it makes these trips that much more meaningful," she said.

The bikes are supplied for the 80 women participating in the ride, although Faulkner will bring her own peddles and saddle. She noted that while it can be difficult to train for a ride on unknown terrain, she is training regularly and is planning on arriving in China a few days early to get her body used to the air and the altitude.

One thing that Faulkner especially enjoys about the Women V Cancer rides is the support system created by riding with the other women.

She explained that some cancer survivors on the ride would be nervous on steep inclines about falling off, since they were still healing, so they women would ride in large groups to take care of each other.

"It's fascinating to be in the company of other women working toward a goal," she said. "It's a phenomenal experience. We support each other, we care for each other."

There will be a 100th anniversary of the Tour de France at Green Bay Cycles on Sunday, with the race being shown on televisions in the shop, games for kids and a French country buffet served from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Faulkner, an avid cook, will make most of the dishes herself.)

Raffle tickets will be available at the event to raise money for her ride, with French-related prizes donated from local businesses.

You can also donate money toward Faulkner's ride online at http://www.justgiving.com/Pam-Faulkner.


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