Second Season Wraps Up
With an early fall fast approaching and the 2018 season winding down, thank you for the support you provided, financially, through volunteerism, becoming more educated in the issues affecting survivors, or by simply bearing witness to the suffering of others.
This season we have four clients enrolled in our signature program. These clients are in daily contact with each other to develop a support network which is moving to witness. The cohort is also engaged in both equine and art group therapy, riding bikes, and have access to talk therapy. Several clients have been working with Emily Hightower with Intrinsic to learn ways to better manage stress through breathing techniques. Additionally, one client is completing a rolfing series to help unlock physical pain due to the traumas experienced.
We started Sacred Cycle to offer hope to fellow survivors and to drive home the truth – you are not alone.
Warmly,

Heather Russell, Executive Director |
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An Evening with Betteridge
Mar 23, 2018 | Betteridge Jewelers in Vail hosted a fundraiser in the store to help us educate the local community on what we do and how our program works. Sacred Cycle board member, Brandy Maze, ESQ, spoke regarding her work as a child advocacy lawyer focusing primarily on dependency and neglect matters. Thank you to Betteridge, Brandy and Matsuhisa Vail for helping to make this event a success! |
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Sacred Cycle Barnbuster
June 2, 2018 | Our second Barnbuster, held in Eagle, Colorado, was a great success. Aligned with Eagle Outside and Bonfire Block Party, the weekend was full of spirit. With sweeping views, courageous client stories, and wet dunk tank kiddos, Sacred Cycle created an evening for our friends and supporters. $7,000 was raised through the hard work of our fundraising committee’s silent auction and raffle items. Donations ranged from a Specialized ebike to Liberty Skis and a one-on-one bike skills clinic to Amanda Wilshire Custom Art. Read Full Article. |
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No Man’s Land Film Festival – Ride with Sacred Cycle
Sept 14-15, 2018 | The No Man’s Land Film Festival is the nation’s only female-focused film festival and takes place in our very own Carbondale, Colorado. This year Sacred Cycle will lead festival-attendee group rides and host an on-trail maintenance clinic. We are partnering with Ragged Mountain Sports, The Bike Project, and Taz from Road Runner Mobile Bike Service to offer these fun events. Register here.
Client Retreat
October 12-14, 2018 | Our 2018 client program will culminate with a 3-day retreat based outside of Carbondale in a beautiful house, donated by Goose Henderson, on the Crystal River. The getaway is a beautiful opportunity to spoil our clients after a season of in-depth healing which is hard work physically and emotionally. Michele Pirozzi from Wild Organics will serve amazing Colorado-sourced organic meals to provide nourishment while the clients complete their program. Programming may include a group therapy session led by Sheri Gaynor of Creative Awakenings International; Group yoga and breathing by Emily Hightower of Intrinsic and a closing ceremony. |
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Therapeutic Approaches to Heal the Body and Mind
Sheri Gaynor of Creative Awakenings International returned for the second year to Sacred Cycle to provide group therapy, equine-assisted therapy, and expressive art therapy. We are blessed to have Sheri, and her decades of experience, to support our clients in deepening their relationship with themselves and their emotions.
“The horse sees beyond the masks we wear and support us in seeing the ways in which we keep ourselves small. These sentient and generous creatures show us the way to authenticity, coherence and the truth of our potential without speaking a word.” ~Sheri |
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Left to right: Brittany Spangler, Kari Kotoff, and Jessica Bechard at The Steamboat Stinger race. Right: Husband, Darin Binion, supports his wife, Rebecca Binion as she readies for Leadville 100 MTB Race. |
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Racing with Sacred Cycle!
The Sacred Cycle Race Team has had a strong season including many podium appearances in races such as the 12 Hours of Mesa Verde, Gunnison Growler, Go-Pro Games, Bailey Hundo, Breckenridge 100, Steamboat Stinger and the infamous Leadville 100. You can keep tabs on our racers through our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Being a Sacred Cycle race team member doesn’t just mean lining up at the start line. Our racers are also active members of the mountain bike community whether it involves doing trail work, supporting their fellow team members at race events or hosting their own unique fundraiser to support our organization. Community involvement and personal connection are core values of Sacred Cycle as we know they are vital to the healing process. Read Full Article. |
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Left to right: 1st place finish for Brittany Spangler at the Telluride 40 Mountain Bike Race. This girl is on fire! Right: Meet Sacred Cycle team rider Maria Wimmer. Maria crushed over 100 miles of high altitude racing at the infamous Leadville 100 MTB Race. Thank you, Maria, for your tenacious dedication to training and racing to help spread the word about our mission. We are so lucky to have you on our side! |
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Sex Abuse Survivors Go From Surviving to Thriving
Mountain Flyer Magazine, by Trina Ortega | “Life has been a real struggle for me,” says Heather Russell, founder of Sacred Cycle, an organization that aims to empower sexual trauma survivors through therapy and mountain biking. “As difficult as it is to share my story, I have to in hopes that it will help others not feel so alone. People are suffering. I don’t want to miss an opportunity, to be frank about what’s really going on out there in our mountain communities.” Read the full story. |
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