(Batesville, IN) – Local resident Thomas Essick rode into Batesville on State Road 46 Thursday morning as part of the Race Across America coast-to-coast charity bicycle ride.
Essick is the Batesville High School assistant cross country coach, middle school track coach and a Hillenbrand employee.
He’s also a member of Team Lithko which is riding to raise money for Concrete Cares – a charitable organization that helps the families of children battling cancer.
Essick wasn’t originally slated to take part in the race, but he stepped up to fill a spot on the team when his friend and training partner Rob Strobel was injured several weeks ago.
Strobel crashed on a training ride three weeks before the race and fractured a hip.
Community members and Essick’s Cross Country athletes lined State Road 46 in front of BHS to greet him for the Team Lithko rider exchange.
Essick and the rest of the team will continue pedaling to the finish in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The race kicked off in Oceanside, California.
You can follow Team Lithko’s progress on Facebook.
You can learn more about Race Across America at www.raamrace.org.
