Thank you all who came to our 4th Annual Bike Day. Whether you rode or not, it seemed like everyone had fun!!!! At the GOC we’re helping people whose lives have been significantly interrupted by mental illness. (By the way, smiling and having fun is a great way to defeat mental illness.) Look at all of the great people and all of the great support we had at our Bike Day event. Look through the 50 pictures we have posted. We hope you are inspired and maybe there is someone you might know.

Clubhouse International – ICCDChasing RabbitsGainesville Cycling ClubHCA Florida North Florida HospitalCulver’sAssociates Realty Services @Family and Friends of Lori Russo First Magnitude Brewing CompanyFirst Magnitude Brewing CompanyIQ FiberSubaru of GainesvilleGainesville Rotary ClubRotary Club of Greater GainesvilleRotary Club of Gainesville Foundation, Inc.Rotary Club of Downtown GainesvilleMeridian HealthcareElder OptionsGainesville Police DepartmentSanta Fe CollegeCity of Gainesville, FL – Government @DogBytes Computers

Megan Olson, owner operator of Culver’s, has supported us for over 5 years. She sponsored us and brought her daughter Chloe along. GOC Board member, Jennie Elder, helped with the raffle. Manny Quiroga and Jacob Warshofsky share a moment. Rotarians, Jimbo Skiles and Jacob Rush, represented two of the four Rotary Clubs in Gainesville. Bruce Stevens (center) is with David Stevens and his wife, Joan. Bruce was GOC’s first-ever Board President. GOC volunteer, Claudia Cuadros, is with GPD officer, Bill Gough. Mercy Quiroga and Manny Quiroga are ready to announce the raffle winners with the Chasing Rabbits band in the background. I gotta tell you, Chasing Rabbits can sing. Wow, can they play, too. Margie is having fun with some tires that were donated for the raffle. GOC Member, Wendie Selene, was a big help. Natasha Fredricks-Klien is with her daughter and Christine Baker from HCA Florida North Florida Hospital. It was so nice to have a great new sponsor like Crime Prevention Security Systems. Their owner, Randi Elrad, had a great time! Thank you, Lisa Kanerek, from Elder Options. We recently were introduced to them and it seems like we have a lot of people in common. Working together is in our future. Talia Hammer is the Executive Director of NAMI. We were happy to have her here. Our friends at Meridian always come out to give GOC support. Board Member, Manny Quiroga, is putting a wristband on a rider from the Gainesville Cycling Club. Gail Childs and her husband, Bill. Such greater supporters of the GOC! Margie Foster and Cristina Quiroga enjoy a moment. There is so much support here. GPD Co-Responders were out in force. Amanda Smith and Mary Beth Beaver from IQ Fiber. They have sponsored several of our events. Brett Buell is kicking things off. Amanda and Mary Beth from IQ Fiber spoke to a lot of people. Board Chair, Mercy Quiroga, thanks everyone for being here. City Commissioner and Santa Fe Police Chief, Ed Book, enjoying some time with GOC Member, Jacob. Ed Book also said a few words about the positive impact GOC is having on our community. Jacob is one of our Members who rode the Hawthorne Trail. More riders! Leah Vail Compton always rides in our event. Sharon and Reid Schreiber had a nice ride. It was a nice day….. not too hot. Christine Baker from HCA Hospital also rides every year. Thank you for all the support we received from Gainesville Cycling Club. Cycling Club is off!!! They rode a 42-mile road route. Stephen Perz and Jo Hartman are the President and First Lady of the Cycling Club. Gainesville Cycling Club. They keep coming. The Rotary Clubs sponsored us for $750. Jason Shank and his wife, Ginger, and others rode the 34 mile trail. More great people riding in our event. Brett is with Jimbo Skiles, Ed Book, and GOC Members. The Chasing Rabbits band was phenomenal. Officer Goff of GPD rode with Jacob on the trail. GPD really looks out for us. Here are our new friends, Rita and Stephen, from Ocala! Welcome back, Ella Tabares. It was so great to see your happy face. Thank you for participating. IQ FIber has been there for us!!!! Brett is hanging out with them along with Lisa Kanerak from Elder Options. We are looking forward to working with Elder Options soon! Officer Gough and Alison Mendoza from GPD and Meridian showing us support. Crime Prevention Security Systems will soon be installing cameras soon at GOC. Thank you, Randi Elrad, for coming out to support us. Gail Childs is talking with Amanda and Mary Beth. IQ Fiber is doing quite a job installing fiber around our region. Anne Rush, Bryan Eastman (City Commissioner), Jacob Rush and son. Stephen Perz and Jo Hartman, President and First Lady of the Gainesville Cycling Club said they had a blast! Look at these great new friends from the Gainesville Cycling Club. Roger Pierce (closest to camera) helped us organize our event and ran the sign up and transactions through his club. GOC Board Member, Reid Schreiber, is with his mother and father, Sharon and Gary Schreiber. Claudia is with GOC Board Members Bill Stephenson, Manny and Mercy Quiroga, and Jacob Rush. “Schoonmaker” from the Cycling Club rode 63 miles in less than three hours. He also helped us clean up. Officer Sara Reeves and Alison Mendoza from GPD and Meridian make up a Co-Responder team. They bring the GOC lots of referrals. It is great working with them!