Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 25, 2006

Benkelman, NE
Benkelman ROCKS! There is no other way to say it. Joe, Katie, and I came through Benkelman two years ago, and it was by far the best stop along the route. We have been pumping up the riders about Benkelman since we assembled the team back in October. This year the town certainly lived up to its reputation!

Chris and Carolyn are the couple that owns the 50’s diner called Strikers, and I couldn’t wait to see them again. Two years ago they shut down their business for two days so that we could sleep on the floor, and they offered us all the ice cream and milk shakes we could stomach. Not only did they shut down their business for us, but also they invited the entire town to gather for a huge fundraising barbeque. As far as I can recall, they helped us raise over $600! I wasn’t sure what the plans were this year, but I was still excited to see this generous couple again.

Our lunch stop was at the house of a minister and his wife, who is currently battling cancer. Chris and Carolyn are friends with the family, so they were glad to let us eat on their front porch, encourage us, and share their own personal story of cancer. It is always refreshing to meet people who have such tremendous hope because that it what we stand for. When we arrived at Strikers, Carolyn was there to greet us and offered us free milk shakes and pizza! The place has changed since 2004. They took out the miniature golf course, and the pool table, and replaced the back part of the restaurant with a gigantic ice-making machine. Chris gave some of us a quick tour of how the ice packaging works. It is pretty amazing. Chris’s brother Randy was in town, and we enjoyed getting to know him as well. He initiated a small no limit Texas Hold’em tournament where half the money goes to the Hopkins 4K. I definitely lost, but it was for a good cause.

Chris and Carolyn put us up in one of the houses they own in Benkelman about half a mile down the road from Strikers. The place was unfurnished, but it was exciting to have an entire house to ourselves. We got so excited that we threw a dance party in one of the big rooms! We had a great time celebrating Susy’s birthday, and the fact that we were in Benkelman! Tomorrow was going to be a big day.

-David