Seeing is Believing
Each year, the Marines donate two spots to the Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Bike Ride to a deserving volunteer or sponsor of our choice for a trip into the Grand Canyon to help deliver toys along with the Marines to the Havasupai indian tribe.
The flight starts early at the Grand Canyon airport on a chilly December day and it’s usually filled with the anticipation of what’s to come. The flight is an amazing journey in itself above one of the seven wonders of the world eventually landing at the bottom of the canyon at the village of Supai. To be greeted by the colorful members of the tribe and the anxiously awaiting children as you depart from the helicopter is an experience that’s hard to forget. For those who have never been here it’s a brief glimpse into a tribe who calls the Grand Canyon their home and who make most of their income from tourists who visit Havasupai Falls.
We ask our sponsors time and time again for their help in contributing goods and money to the ride. It’s not until someone sees the benefits of the efforts of the ride that it really hits home what this is ultimately all about. This past year we wanted to reward one of our longtime sponsors, New Belgium Brewing. Our sponsor representative, Quinn Hess, along with her daughter had the honor of flying with the Marine Corps / Toys for Tots into the Grand Canyon to deliver holiday gifts to the members of the Havasupai Tribe. Here’s what she had to say:
“IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE!! I cannot believe that opportunity was given to me and my daughter. It was so amazing! THANK YOU-THANK YOU- THANK YOU! It was such a pleasure to meet everyone involved and see what a difference it made to everyone on the reservation. What a great experience to have, I haven’t stopped talking about it since.”
So, thanks to all of you who help, sponsors, volunteers, and riders!
