Danny’s Ride

I hope all is well with Danny, Ken and you also Drew. I have returned from Julian, California and shared your story with my friend who is in need of a bit of inspiration with her illness. She was very touched with the stories Danny shared with me of his adventures in the Mohave Desert. Thank you for being strong in your faith and we continue to pray for all of you. If you need anything Kelly and I have Ford truck,and some good music. ha. Continue to travel with Gods work and the angels protection surrounding all of you…Have a great day……

Wow…what an adventure! Drew,it has been great fun hearing the stories from your mom and dad. But now to actually read in great detail your adventure, it brings it much more to life. We send our love and prayers(even if they are Methodist prayers) but more importantly…. our admiration!! YOU even made the little Bettendorf Newspaper….the cover story, no less. Better than being in the back of the newspaper…remember that page?
Take care, drink lots of water and be smart with your daily strenuous biking….and listen to your Mom! ( It’s Mother’s Day! ) Now, that I know how to do this YOU will be hearing from us again. xoxox
JV and SV

Danny, Ken and Drew,
Keep up the great adventure and make sure everyone keeps a daily journal so you can write a book about all the unique experiences! And to read the blog is a real treat, such great people you have met and touched so far, with many more to come. Please be careful out there and always error on the side of caution. You are all in our prayers.

Drew your “CHS family” loves the updates–all the stories of flat tires, wallets in the wrong places–wonderfully generous people you are meeting…and the miles of pedalling! NO ONE will ever take this experience away from you. Keep up your good work and your happy spirit. Did I hear your Dad is meeting up with y’all in TX? That’s got to be a good lift–and a few hearty meals! See you when you get back to 294 zip code!
Love Andi, Gary & Cognac—NG & G too!

Hey guys .. looks like you might be changing your route some. Please make sure to post when you are going to be the Dallas Fort Worth area .. I was trying to help get some hotel rates for you based upon where you planned to be. I also would like to be able to take all three of you to dinner one evening when you are in the area. Don’t worry about my driving .. miles are small when you live in Texas and have to cover such a large geographic area everyday for work anyway! Keep up the GREAT work that you all are doing!!!

DAN!!! I love following your ride. Thanks for letting us be a part of your adventure. Got your website off of Danny’s facebook wall. So fun reconnecting with him and now you. My flute is a bit dusty, but it still gives me great memories of you and the band. You are one in a million. I always loved you! – Daddy too! He still speaks so fondly of you. Can’t wait to show Mom and Dad your blog when I visit them in Atlanta. Keep riding. Don’t forget the sunscreen. Oh, I am one of your 1K. ) Bye!!

Danny, Drew and Ken, I will be one of your 1,000.
Take care and keep spreading the word. You guys are awesome!

Hey Mr. Leonard! I’m still practicing trumpet and sax. My whole family is praying for you. Can’t wait to see you again at band!

Hi guys, we are praying everyday your ride goes well, and that you are blessed beyound mesure for all your efforts. It has been 5 months today since our son Jeremy passed away. Like you, we continue to raise awareness and funds to fight L&L. Keep up the great work and know our prayers are with you.
Mark and Donna Hoeger.. Dubuque IA

Congratulations and all best wishes, Drew….

on this incredible, memorable effort you never will forget. And it’s for such a grrr8 cause. It’s terrific that you can redord with both pix and words your daily progress and laud the people you meet who help you. I’m not a biker (like my kid sister Ginny is) so don’t know reason
but is having the number of lats each of you encounter considered normal?
I assume the heat is the main cause? Is that so? In any case, keep up the good work. I’m sending the suggested contribution and this Daly will add you both to my prayers at daily Mass.

Uncle Johnny

@drew and katie skipper

Drew, I don’t know any corny jokes. All of mine are good ones. Yes, I have been ordering pizza everywhere I go. It gets some pretty funny responses when they don’t serve pizza. I got you a “Billy the Kid” wanted poster.

Peggy Sue (I mean Katie), I miss you, too. Love, PaPa-Ken (I got you something)

Andrea, I still have some anxious moments with the RV but I’m getting pretty use to driving it. This is a great trip! So far, Danny has shared his story with over 10 million people through radio, newspapers and television. Yesterday he was iterviewed by NBC, CBS, and ABC in El Paso for the evening news.

Thanks, Skippers, for being one of the 1,000!!

papa ken, are you telling them all of your corny jokes? I read you are ordering pizza everywhere. I`m glad you are having fun.
love drew

Hi PeggySue!!! I love you!!!!! I miss you!!!! love Katherine (Katie)

Hi Ken, Glad to see you are keeping the camper on the road! I have to admit…..we were kinda worried about you! Looks like you guys are having an awesome time. Wonderful job ya’ll are doing! We are gonna keep following the blog…. it is a great start to each day! Be safe and we will see you soon. Love, Andrea

The Skipper Family will be one of your 1000!!!!!!

Wow, the stories just keep getting better (they give me a nice break from work). The pictures are amazing too! I can’t beleive how gorgeous the desert is. 48 and over 50 mph on a bike sounds like a rush… keep having fun and spreading the word. Good Luck!

Thank you for taking all the pictures we ask you to. We LOVE them! If you see any wild turkeys can you take a picture of them? Please don’t run into any cones. If you see a run-roader (road runner) please take a picture of it.

Thank you for letting us watch the video from the news.

Keep on trying! Keep on trying! Keep on trying! You all can do it!

Please write us back!

Thanks,
Aiyana, Aldariya, Dowling, I’Jah, Jaylen, Jesse, Jonathan, KJ, Levi, TeAsiah, Te’yionna and Ms. Deas and Ms. Aldridge

You guys are great– I cant believe you are already in Texas. I sent you off from California. I love reading your jouney’s every day. Please be careful, enjoy the scenery and the love from all the people.
Have fun and bike safely.

Drew, Great talking with you tonight! Thanks for the call!
Your excitement is contagious. We will continue to follow you and Danny on your adventurous journey. Be safe!

@Kenny Skipper

Hey Drew and Katie. I’m glad you are following us. Have you told your classes about “Danny’s Ride”? I have a lot of stories to tell you and pictures for you to see. I’ll see you next month.

Count me in on the $30 donation. I am getting my neighbors and friends to give $30. Danny and Drew – you do the hard work and we can give the donation. Stay safe!

@Kenny Skipper

Good! We appreciate it. It is a great trip and Danny has reached over 9 million people so far with his story.

These stories are so encouraging (and amusing). Reading your posts make me laugh and bring tears to my eyes. It brings back good memories from band!
Keep up the good work on the blog Drew.

I just want to let you know my prayers (and my family’s prayers, of course) are with you, as always.

With love.

what an extraordinary trip of a lifetime you are all making! Hearts will be warmed and touched by this. Best wishes, Sherri

Danny and Drew,
Stay safe, and Drew I hope those skinny legs are holding up! Hope to catch up with you guys in late May in MS or AL. All the best!

Danny, Drew, Ken-

Glad to see your progress. Great to see the media coverage as well. Keep working hard blood cancer patients are depending on you!

Paul Jeter

Sounds like you guys are nuts—55mph!!
Media coverage has really picked up. That’s great. The more people that know of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society the more blood cancer patients will be helped. Thanks & God Bless Danny, Drew & Ken.

Danny, I was excited to hear about the media coverage. That’s fantastic! Dave and I will be watching Fox. We are so, so proud of you. I can’t tell you what an inspiration you have been to me. God is truly watching over you with every turn of the wheels. Take good care. Love, Marsha
Drew and Ken, you take good care, too.

Danny and Drew,
On Sunday I went to a fundraiser for a young woman named Robin Marlow Proudfoot who has cancer. It was in the parking lot at Buffalo South on James Island. As I drove up to the shopping center I was amazed that the place was packed with hundreds of cars and bikes! Please keep her in your prayers. And as jimazing said…it makes us all the more engaged with what you are doing. Ride on and be safe!

Danny, hang in there! keep up the good work! we are pulling for you here in NC and can’t wait to see you pull in [smile].

Danny: Master Chief Petty Officer/”Cap’n Bill” says to tell you “no worries” regarding your heart doctor’s reading the blog about the barbeque pig you want- there will be plenty so that he can have some, too! Love, “Patsy” and Bill

I bet Danny Leonard is smiling ear to ear and full of excitement about the interviews! sounds like all is well. yall are awesome. Drew the stories and the pics are awesome, I look forward to them every morning. Stay well,
Much Love,
Jennifer

Hey Danny,

You two just keep going and going, that’s good. I guess you have more and more reasons to get those ‘goose bumps’ these days and I am sure you are showing them to everyone when they pop up, like you used to do in band rehearsals!

Thanks for the email and I hope to see you in Dallas in a few weeks. Both of you are doing such a wonderful thing, keep on biking…

Mark

Sean,

Man, I wish you were here—the first time I crossed the country you were right there with me. I’m glad your exams are over and I know you are glad to get the year behind you. It has been tough, very tough a times but everytime you get tired or start hurting you just think of what your mission is and dig deeper. I can’t wait to see you, Danny Jr. and Dr. Patrick. I love you guys!

God bless my sons always,
Dad

@Sean Leonard

My dear sister,

Everytime I get to tell my story I break out in “qoose bumbs”. I really feel we will make a break through with people donating in the next week. Fox news is going to film us today riding. NBC, Channel 9 TV is going to meet us on the road and Las Cruces Sun Times is also doing an article on us. Tommorrow, will be going to some hospitals in El Paso to see cancer patients and draw attention through the media. What a blessing to have this opportunity to give people hope and save lives. This without a doubt is the most important thing I have ever done in my life and I know this is what the Lord quided me to do. Kenneth and Drew are always helping in anyway they can and I’m real thankful for that. What a team we are.

Tell Captain Howard — that I can’t wait for him to bar-a-que a pig–I mean a BIG OLE’ PIG. I hope my heart doctor is not reading this blog. I’ll email you soon–

Love my sister!! May God Bless you and Bill always,

Danny

alo @Pat Howard

Hey dad! Exams are over!! I’ve been reading about your trip everyday and it looks like you all are having fun. I see you have once again managed to talk your way out of a ticket. Amazing. One day you’re going to have to show me how you do it. Have fun today.

Regarding the wonderful people who are helping you all so much on this trek:

Danny, you know I really believe that we all have God living within us. At any time, that Holy Spirit may reach out and help, support and/or comfort others.I honestly believe that such people are “angels in disguise” and are actually messengers to us from God, somehow. We are all capable of being this to someone else, if we only accept that Gift. Some are so much more aware of that divine spark than others, but it is there for all who will receive it.

God bless all those people who have helped my wonderful brother and Drew and Ken. I know He will. Keep safe, “Bubba John” (ha! inside story), and know we all love you and respect you so much—all of you.
Love you, “Patsy”

Mike,

We won’t be in your area but maybe someday we could connect–I wish you the best and God bless,

Danny

\@Mike Novelli

Chris,
Thanks for sending us a note. It means a lot when people comment that we really don’t know. Have a wonderful life and may God bless you and your family always,

Danny
@Chris Tyhurst

@The Rose Family
Thanks for the comments. It makes me smile every time I read your post. Coach G’s practice definitely helped prepare me for this trip. Thanks again for following us. It makes it easier to stay up late every night writing the blog, when I know friends and family are following!

Thanks for checking us out–I really enjoyed meeting you guys today–You all do such a great service to your state—I’m going to keep training and maybe, just maybe, I might be able to out cycle a state police car–Do you think??

God bless you and the officers,
and if I never see you again–I’ll see you up there.

Danny
@Sgt. David guerrero LSCO Deming NM

@jimazing
Jim,
Sorry to hear about your friend–I burried two very close friends with cancer in the last five years and spoke at their funeral. I know what your going through–but you will see him again and he is not in pain anymore–

God Bless you and your family,

Danny

@Avis Tidwell
Avis,

We will defintely be in Birmingham sometime this year—-just kidding. We’re right on schedule, but we will probably have some form of TV, Newspapers, or radio shows that day–we will stay in touch and I will know more before we reach Birmingham’

Take care and tell Terry I said hello and I’ll see you guys

God Bless,
Danny

Gail,
It sure was good to hear from you and I’m sure you’re very excited about your grandson. Tell him I wish him the very best–does he ride a bike?? We could sure use someone to pull me up these mountains. The ride has been a challange but so very rewarding. I’ve met so many wonderful people and everyday is so very different. Tell everyone I said hello and tell Glenn I hope he shoots a 67 and then I will challenge him—I can’t even play golf–but I’m sure he could teach me.

Love Ya,
Danny
\@Gail Hoy

I second everything Brett said. Well, except that he hinted that Drew might be proficient at biking…highly doubtful.

Hey Danny & Drew,
Keep on truckin (or biking)! I can’t wait to see ya’ll back in Charleston.
-Hurst

Welcome to New Mexico! I enjoyed reading everything on your website. It is a great cause, and I’m glad you had the chance to do this. Good luck the rest of the way!

Drew and company- I can’t wait to get the email everyday with all the descriptions of the scenery and people that you have come across. What a life time of beautiful memories. Drew you have become quite a writer during your travels. Your stories will never be forgotten, Keep it up and stay safe!
Love ya

Drews extremely short and skinny arms may actually play to his advantage in biking, unlike basketball, where his career was marginal at best.

Thats beside the point though, good luck Danny!

Danny it was apleasure to meet you, I got the pleasure to check on you at I-10 MM 100 in Deming NM. You youre an inspiration for a lot of people including me god bless you and god will be with you all the way on your journey.

Sergeant David Guerrero Luna County Sheriff Department Deming NM.

May God keep you safe on your journey. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Just got your facebook message! Sorry it took so long. Hope all is going well. Proud to know you.
If you guys plan on riding thru anywhere near Chicagoland, or Illinois for that matter let me know and I’ll see what I can do about meeting up with you and riding along side.
Good luck! Stay safe