Happy New Year from Sacred Cycle

2018 has certainly been a busy year. We are grateful for the ongoing support! In the past several months, Sacred Cycle has received very exciting film and television inquiries. Organizations from NBC Nightly News and Specialized Bikes to independent filmmaker attention has given me the opportunity to reflect on why I found it vital to start an eclectic organization like Sacred Cycle. I wasn’t moved to action because of the staggering prevalence of sexual trauma, nor necessarily the horrible transgressions that survivors experienced, but rather by witnessing the impact and aftermath that sexual trauma has on survivors. It is years and lifetimes to come. This broke my heart and initiated Sacred Cycle’s birth.

I thank you for helping Sacred Cycle realize our mission to improve the lives of victimized people.

Warmly,

Heather Russell, Executive Director

An Evening with Dana Meir

August 9, 2018 | This season Sacred Cycle had the opportunity to collaborate with Dana Meir who does similar advocacy work in the Israel Neve Desert. Dana uses mountain bikes to work with incarcerated youth, people in recovery from drug addiction, and other minority groups. In addition to learning about our program and meeting with our therapists, Dana gave our clients an experiential clinic to experience leadership and trust. During one of the activities, we actually had to try and bike with our eyes closed! Read the full article and view event images. 

Annual Retreat Recap

The Fall Retreat is a Sacred Cycle program cornerstone. Each season we gather to celebrate the difficult healing journeys our clients have chosen. Admittedly, we spoil our clients with delicious food and creature comforts. Several past season clients were on hand to support the 2018 clients with advice and hope. Through the tears and laughter, when we heard things like, “I feel like I finally belong somewhere’ or “I feel supported”, we knew we were on track with our mission. Thank you to Board Member Sara Shainholtz for once again organizing an amazing retreat. Read the full article and view retreat photo gallery. 

“You have given me so much. I hope to always carry a message of strength and support through your connection to my life. Not only through healing, but centering and re-focusing on myself in the world.” ~ Client

The Summit 

Guest Blogger: Shay Castle

I’VE NEVER LIKED MY BODY. In fact, I’ve hated and distrusted it most of my life. I see it primarily as an object of desire, and for this, I feel great shame. My body is not for me, it is for them: to admire, to use. I have tried focusing on what my body can do rather than how it looks, but this is no good either. Although my heart pumps and my legs can jump and my arms lift and my spine twists, these are all ordinary performances. My body can do nothing great.

Maybe if I lived somewhere else, it would be a different story. If I still resided in Orlando, biking to work most days would impress most people. That I’ve climbed to the Continental Divide would be an amazing feat back in Ohio, to my family who, on most days, don’t bother to walk to their mailboxes. Read the full blog post.