Helen Hill
Summit Daily News Staff Writer
FRISCO Friscoite Nancy Stevens rode into Denver last week with all the enthusiasm of any biker on her first cross country ride. What makes her challenge that much more difficult is the fact that Stevens is blind.
Stevens began in Portland, Oregon, as a core rider with Girls on the Move, a group of cyclists dedicated to uniting women of all ages and promoting physical, mental and emotional health. The 3,865-mile ride started in September and reached Colorado last week. It will end in New York City.
Stevens, who is known in Summit County for her singing talents, was chosen through an application process to select women who would serve as role models for their gender and particularly for young girls. Twenty women were chosen from hundreds of applications to be part of the core group. They will ride for 10 weeks, joined along the way by 40 stage riders in three three-week segments of the trip. Stevens said they are averaging 65 miles a day.
The Girls on the Move riders stopped in Denver last weekend to celebrate the successful ride and to raise awareness with the help of renowned athletes, celebrities and non-profit organizations.
Girls festivals occur in five cities, with entertainment, activities and celebrity appearances. The festivals will use interactive exhibits and entertainment to celebrate women and promote activities for communities to encourage the development of strong women. Every major city will have a 5-10-mile girls ride for people to join the celebration. The next stop is Chicago.
Girls on the Move defines the cross country ride as A national public campaign to raise awareness of issues important to girls and women.
These issues include self-esteem, especially for women between the ages of 6-18, and strength in a traditionally male-dominated society.
Stevens, 38, participates in many sports in Summit County. She is not slowed or discouraged by her blindness it is just another challenge she must overcome. She skis, hikes and bikes with guides.
Stevens competed on the Disabled Nordic Ski Team and in the 1998 Paralympic Games in Nagano, Japan. She was also one of the first blind racers to participate in the Winter Park Competition.
Stevens continues to be enthusiastic about the ride and its cause.
On Saturday, she sang at the Girls Festival at City Park in Denver one of several occasions for her to perform across the country. Stevens also sang at the opening ceremony in Portland at the beginning of the trip.
It is hard to express the emotions we were all feeling, Stevens said in an e-mail. It was so exciting.
Stevens described how singing helped her make it over Teton Pass in Wyoming a total altitude gain of 8,400 feet.
Marlene, who I rode with on several training rides this summer, rode with me to the top, Stevens said. We sang when we had enough air.