In March 2005, photographer Eric Schenk fulfilled a lifelong dream
and traveled to southern Chile. There he captured images of the amazingly
wild, windswept landscape and the warm, colorful people who live at
the end of the world.
Several of these stunning photographs will be shown at the Groove
Ground Coffeehouse in Collingwood, NJ on Saturday, October 14, 2006
from 6 – 9pm. This photo exhibit is part of the town’s
“2nd Saturday" event where painters, crafter s, sculptors,
photographers, musicians and food masters come together every month
for an evening art & entertainment along vibrant Haddon Avenue.
The Red Helmet Foundation has been established to provide scholarships
to local high school students within Burlington and Camden Counties,
who demonstrate interest in photography, journalism, environmental
studies or volunteerism. The RHF works with schools to identify young
individuals who embody a passionate spirit with a strong desire to
make a posi t ive impact wit hin their communities.
The foundation was established to continue the vision of artist, activist
and adventurer Eric Schenk who passed away in June 2005 while participating
in a promotional ride with the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team.
Eric was an avid cyclist, photojournalist and community activist who
focused his energy and passion on both documenting and changing the
lives of the less fortunate. Eric utilized his camera and his spirit
for adventure as he recorded life events and affected change in a
real and distinct manner.
His photographs are being shared in memoriam.
To contact the Red Helmet Foundation: info@redhelmet.org or write
to:
Red Helmet Foundation, Inc., PO Box 4706, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.
For directions to Groove Ground Coffeehouse: http://www.grooveground.com
Several years ago we invited Eric Schenk, a Cherry Hill resident,
to
present a program about Pedals for Progress, a charity that collects
and
ships old bicycles to developing countries.
An avid cyclist, Eric served as the South Jersey coordinator for the
High Bridge-based organization. His presentation made an impression
on us, and in October 2003 we sponsored a bicycle collection in
Haddonfield that took in 78 bicycles – close to a truckload.
Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer carries an obituary for Eric Schenk,
who
died Saturday of complications from severe coronary disease. He
collapsed during a practice run for last Sunday’s Wachovia USPro
Cycling Championship in Philadelphia. He was 42.
In a typical year, Pedals for Progress delivered about 10,000 bicycles
to help farmers transport their produce to market, tradesmen to deliver
their services, workers to reach job sites, students to attend schools,
health care workers to reach underserved patients, and poor people
to
acquire skills and jobs repairing and distributing bicycles. To date,
the
organization has recycled about 100,000 bicycles.
Our calendar for the coming Rotary year includes a Pedals for
Progress bicycle collection on Saturday, October 22. Perhaps, to honor
of Eric and in recognition of Rotary’s Centennial Year, we should
aim to
collect 100 bicycles this year.
On Saturday, July 30 more than 162 professional and elite amateur
racers converged on Mount Holly for the 7th Annual Mount Holly –
Smithville Grand Prix. Racers representing 28 cycling teams including
a strong international contingent from 12 countries competed for
a purse of $10,000. A tribute and moment of silence was held prior
to this year's 92-mile race, in memory of Eric Schenk, an avid cyclist
who attended and photographed the race for several years.
The 12-mile course snaked through Mount Holly, Westampton, Springfield
and Eastampton, and riders made seven laps before taking the two
and a half mile in-town loop three times for a thrilling finish.
The Travels We Take…From the pages of South Jersey Magazine…
In 2000, I had the pleasure of visiting with a man who lived in
the Covered Bridge section of Cherry Hill. He was a strong, passionate
man--a cyclist who traveled the globe to promote better living conditions
and bike donations in developing countries. He was slightly older
than I am, and had a wonderful life and wife, whom he talked about
fondly.
I recall that he had a special tracking system on his cell phone
so that he could more easily converse with his wife, when cell phone
access was questionable in other countries.
I remember how much I admired him for his devotion to his family
and to his passion, cycling. We spent over an hour at his house,
talking about his mission, his vision, and of course, his bikes.
Just a few weeks ago, my friend Chris emailed me to tell me that
the cyclist, Eric Schenk, had passed away from an undetected heart
issue while racing in Philadelphia for the Discovery Channel, in
a practice run for the Wachovia USPro Championships. Chris said
that the family displayed that article from 2000 at Eric’s
funeral services. It was a distinct and bittersweet honor that I
will never, ever forget.
After climbing out of the valley of shock and disbelief, it was
easy to remember all the good that this one man had done. He was
a hometown boy, but seemed to have a spirit that would carry him
far from his South Jersey stomping grounds. It would take him around
the world in the year 2000. In the late 1990s, it would carry him
for miles across the United States, as he cycled across the country
to raise funds for the American Lung Association. His hunger to
do more, to make people take notice, and to do some real good in
his lifetime would also help propel him across Ecuador, to bring
attention to the country's environmental problems. Sure, he was
an adventurous man. But Eric wanted to do more than have an adventure,
or push his physical limits. He wanted it all to mean something.
Specifically, Eric and I had discussed Pedals for Progress, a charity
in High Bridge, NJ. The organization refurbishes - then recycles-
old bicycles and ships them to developing countries. Eric had decided
that he wanted to see where those shipments were going. And, he
didn’t mean that he was going to fly there and drive around
in a protected, air- conditioned all-terrain vehicle. Instead, he
went on a 15,000-mile, 15-country bicycle excursion in an effort
to raise funds for Pedals for Progress. On two wheels, he began
visiting the very countries in which the bikes were being used.
Pedals for Progress helps the poorer countries overseas by donating
the unwanted bikes of Americans to those who were in need of inexpensive,
non-polluting transportation. In a foreign land, that bike would
be a ticket to a better life. That bike would be the vehicle for
residents to get to their jobs, markets, customers, and to school.
Pedals for Progress (www.p4p.org) had received, processed and donated
over 90,000 bicycles, at last count. That’s 90,000 lives improved.
That’s an economy doing just a little better because people
like Eric cared.
I am fortunate to have met Eric, and I am still impressed with his
drive, ambition, and giving nature. I am lucky enough in this lifetime
to have the privilege of meeting amazing people every day in my
travels as editor of this magazine. I am constantly reminded that
the hard news stories and crime and sensationalism on the late night
news are not the end all-be all of our existence. We all know that
most of that is just for ratings.
In my business, in my station at this magazine, the real news that
can shake you to your core is about those inspirational, trailblazing
individuals that make you think and feel. It’s about those
people who can move you to react, or better yet, become proactive.
I know South Jersey is just brimming with these people. Without
a doubt, Eric was one of them.
You know, it’s a fact that you never know exactly where your
travels will take you. Eric’s travels took him to the far
reaches of the globe. My travels years ago led me to a conversation
with Eric one night in the Covered Bridge section of Cherry Hill.
And whether you travel into a neighboring town or to a foreign country
for a life experience, the result is the same. You will never be
quite the same after the journey.
I know that much is true.
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