I've talked with some of you about Mariel Mentink, but it might not be news you've heard otherwise. I wouldn't have if I didn't have so many friends in the Austin cycling community...

Briefly: Mariel is a Chicago girl who was severely injured in a hit and run on New Year's Eve in Austin, TX while riding with a group of helmeted, well-lit cyclists. She was only recently deemed stable enough to be moved from a hospital there back to Chicago, where she's near her family and friends, for continuing treatment and rehab. There are regular updates from her family here:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marielmentink

There is a benefit for Mariel on the 26th from 8pm to 2am and I'll be heading there for a while after CCM.


And here's the more complete info straight off the facebook event page:


Join us for live music, beer, and bike mechanics working for donations to give your ride a tune up or repair. All proceeds go to the Mariel Mentink Medical Fund to support Mariel as she recovers from a severe cycling accident that occurred on January 1, 2010.

Who- Early on New Years day a cyclist named Mariel Mentink was hit from behind on her commute home. The 40 mph hit and run collision left Mariel struggling for her life in the Brackenridge ICU. Doctors and nurses are still tending to her broken vertebrae, skull fractures and many other cracked bones and injuries. "So far, she improves a little every day. It is expected that the physical repairs will take six weeks to heal, and will be uncomfortable until then. The back operation that she experienced takes six months for the pain to subside. Brain recovery takes an unknown amount of time; medical science is not advanced enough to predict an outcome. And the outcomes are different for each person." -Excerpt from Mariel's Caringbridge Journal.

What- We as Mariel's friends, and a bicycling community, want to show our support for Mariel and her amazingly strong family. We plan to do this by having an event/fundraiser for her. This event's purpose is to support Mariel financially and also to help to increase bike safety and driver to bicycle awareness.

There are lots of events going on to show Mariel our support and, if you're a member of the Chicago/Illinois community, this is your chance to participate. Bands, bicyclists/bike shops, local businesses, tattoo/glass artists, painters, hats/bag makers and even a fundraising foundation have already shown interest by offering to donate their time, give items for a raffle, or even take part at the event in the areas of Austin TX, DeKalb IL, Chicago IL, and Knoxville TN. The amount of support that so many people have already shown is amazing, and we need your help too.