Joel Winston loved biking. Whether it was peddling his way to his office on the plaza each day or sitting at the sidelines of the Tour de France with his oldest son, Kyle, the towering 6-foot 4-inch Prairie Village resident was passionate about the sport he loved.
Even a devastating diagnosis of stomach cancer couldn’t stop the avid cyclist, who would bike to initial chemotherapy appointments. But as the disease progressed, Joel was forced to focus his energy on his battle with cancer.
His family wanted to find a unique way to inspire Joel and set out to secretly transform a freestanding garage behind the family’s home into a bike workshop. They feverishly worked on the garage between trips to the hospital and planned to unveil the garage on Father’s Day in 2006, the same day as Joel and his wife Kacy Child-Winston’s anniversary.
“I so wanted him to be passionate about something again,” Kacy says.
But Joel never saw the garage his family had worked so hard on. He passed away just two days before Father’s Day. And the garage, which now holds a plaque in Joel’s honor, served as the site of the eccentric and charismatic man’s memorial service.
But Kacy and her two sons weren’t content to let that be the end of Joel’s legacy. In his honor, they’ve created an annual street bike race that raises money for local charities. Joel always valued the importance of giving back to the community, and the race has become a way Kacy and her sons Kyle and Seth can continue his mission.
The race, which will be held on June 6 this year in Overland Park, is sponsored by SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza. The owners of the popular pizza shop were close friends with the Winstons, even riding together on occasion, and wanted to do something to honor their friend.
“It just keeps us connected to him,” says co-owner Gail Lozoff. “We just loved him so much.”
Each year at the race, Kacy brings Joel’s bike to the event. And as she watches the colorful cycling jerseys go by, she thinks of the husband she lost.
“He would love to come to this,” she says. “That’s just the feeling that I walk with each year.”
To find out more about the 3rd annual Joel’s Ride for a Reason, contact Congregation Beth Torah at (913) 498-2212. Interested participants can also register online at www.active.com, keyword: Joel’s Ride.
words: Jill Sederstrom