11/29/06
Trail Angels Friends:
It grieves me to share that we will be losing a very special angel. Christy Kirkwood and Debbie Brown were out enjoying their Tuesday evening ride. They parked their cars ready to go out and enjoy what we all love to do not thinking twice about just how fragile life can be.
They exited out of Whiting Ranch onto Santiago Canyon Rd to make their way to continue up Modjeska Grade. Their tires left the dirt and out onto the pavement for not more than 25 yards or so riding side by side, Debbie on the inside and Christy on the outside in the bike line. Debbie said that Christy was there and then gone when a driver (not under any influence) swerved into the bike line and hit Christy.
The impact of the car hitting her at approximately 55 miles an hour left little chance for survival. We are pretty sure that Christy did not suffer. She was air-lifted to Mission Hospital where they worked desperately to save her life. Her husband and son were surrounded by many of the ladies from our group praying for God to spare her life. The news came however, that they did all they could do, but her brain showed no sign of activity.
Currently, she is on life support, her husband and son await the arrival of her folks and sister traveling from Utah. The decision to just exist on life support was ruled out while Christy and Chris shared their love on this earth.
Please keep her husband Chris and her son Cory in your prayers. I know that you all feel very compelled to share your sympathy for her family. I guess for now, if you'd like to send them a card you can send it to my address and I will be sure to deliver your loving words.
Jacke Van Woerkom
Thu 11/30/2006
Good Evening Trail Angels:
Before I share the details about the ride tomorrow. I wanted
to shed some light on this challenging time. I just got off
the phone about an hour ago with Christy's husband and I know
that he would approve of me sharing this. Christy was a donor
and has saved three individual's lives today and have brought
great hope to them and their families.
Just to update and possibly answer the numerous questions
that have been asked. Here is the schedule for tomorrow's Memorial
Ride for Christy:
Time: Tomorrow (Friday) 9:00 a.m.
Location: McDonald's Parking lot across from the Portola entrance
to Whiting
The Ride: Leave the parking lot approximately 9:30 after a
prayer and perhaps whatever anyone would like to say, and head
over to Whiting. We will follow the trail that leads over to
Santiago Cyn Rd. We'll leave the bikes around the gate and
all walk to the site. I've checked with a few of the authorities
and we don't need permission to leave any type of Memorial.
The concern of course, being that it is on the road, is everyone's
safety. There is nothing we can do other than bring some cones
to set down as a caution for the oncoming drivers. Please stay
as close to the hillside as possible. You all have a choice
of continuing on to Modjeska or head back through Whiting.
There will be some of the women from the group who will not
be riding and have offered to drive your special gifts of contribution
to the Memorial site. When you get to the gate you can retrieve
them from their car and place it there yourself and reflect
on Christy's life. If you have parking cones please bring them
and the girls will take those with them to be placed on the
road.
It would be wonderful if you could all wear your Trail Angel
jerseys for the ride. After talking to Bobbie who is the head
ranger at Whiting, she recommends that we do not place candles
due to the high fire danger. Perhaps, you can leave glow sticks
there to illuminate the Memorial at night.
There are other groups in Orange County that have received
word and would like accompany us. My prayer is that it will
be a beautiful occasion in honoring Christy and her family.
Her husband Chris and her son Cory will be in attendance.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who
are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
Jacke
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To lose a dear friend is tougher than any downhill trail but the memories will stay in my heart forever. I can hear her say right how....... "here's a pacifier, stop whining"!!! She was one amazing over 50 woman :)
From the top of any peak whether covered with snow or dirt she took on life. I will miss her deeply.
Kpbikin~debi
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Chirsty, she called herself the "Fallen Angel", because we didn't take a moment to say a prayer before each ride. She could not have been more wrong! Christy was a Trail Angel true and true. I can't believe that I can't ride with my angel friend any more. She showed me all the fun (not too well known) single tracks at El Morro, LCW and Aliso Woods. The Poker rides we did were so much fun. She was always making me laugh. I tried to win the case of Fat Tire Beer for her which she really would like to have won. She will always be in my heart and I will always think of her true enjoyment of mountain bike riding when I ride these trails.
Vicki Shapley
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Lovely is the what comes to my mind when I think of Christy. She was always generous and gracious with her time. Her outlook was love for everybody and everything around her with an unstoppable enthusiasm. The Sierra Club mountain bike committee has hosted beginner mountain bike clinics each August. With that announcement was the request for any Trail Angel who would like to volunteer as leaders. Christy would volunteer with her happy energetic countenance every year we asked. Only once she couldn't make it because we didn't provide advance notice and apologized for having a previous commitment. WoW! Our BAD! Even with that, she would have been there as with previous years to help nurture those beginners to love the sport of mountain biking.
Alice Danta
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Mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport. We know each time we ride that our lives and the lives of our loved ones can be seriously or gravely altered without notice. We cheat injury and death everytime we ride, perhaps to remind ourselves that we are alive.
When I hear things like this, I sense feelings coming from all directions and I can almost feel inside the other person. Call it empathy, telepathic connection, or perhaps a spiritual connection. But it's something. And I know it's real.
I thought first about Christy. I
doubt she had any fear. I doubt there was much pain. I sense
just a brief moment of confusion followed by nothing. Is grim as it
sounds, she's lucky in some regard that she was knocked out instantly. I
believe that she didn't fight for her life. Rather, I believe she
embraced her own death.
I thought next about Chris. His pain will last forever. And I thought about Corey. He's so young that he probably can't even comprehend death. Holidays - ruined forever. They'll need all the support they can get from their friends, family, and the community. They'll need reassurance that God is with them even when they lose their loved ones.
Lastly, I thought about my mom who will undoubtedly be reading about this story soon in the paper or perhaps seeing it on TV tonight. She once told me that she's so afraid I'll die while mountain biking that she can't bear to look at the photos of my trips. Imagine how afraid she must feel that I might slip away without notice. I've told my mom time and time again that if I should happen to die while mountain biking please know that I was doing what I love to do with friends that share the same passion.
Are we selfish to dare our lives everytime we ride? Should we restrict our activities to less risky things? Perhaps. Will it stop me from riding though? Absolutely not.
I lost a friend many years ago to a heart failure. He was only 27 years old. He was a postal carrier that walked all day long, every day. And when he got home he and I would work out together. One day he was working out with a friend and just collapsed. He was dead before he hit the ground from a genetic defect: a small tear in his hear ripped open causing an immediate and fatal cardiac arrest. I stopped working out that day. I sold all of my weights and I told myself that I would never put myself in the face of that kind of danger again. It took me a good 7 years before I would ever work out again. In that time my health deteriorated and my lifestyle deteriorated. I gained weight, took up smoking, and drank too much. I should have never stopped doing what I loved to do for fear that a loved one might lose me while I was working out.
At the same time though today, I definitely feel a bit of guilt knowing that the people around me might suffer in the way that Chris and Corey are suffering now. My prayers are with them. I have no answers for my mom though. I can only try to reassure her that I'm coming back whether in this life or the next.
---Mark Warrick
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We are all in shock over this and can only rely upon our faith in God that this is all part of his larger plan.... that good will come out of this. We need to remember that this is only a cessation of physical life... not spiritual life. In Luke, Jesus tells us not to worry about everyday life, but our eternal life. This sort of puts things back into perspective of what's really important and how temporal our life is here.
Christy is survived by
her husband Chris, her 20 year old son Corey and her young child.
Please pray for them.... I know that angels are nearby....
Gregg Howard
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I met Christy at WOW 2004, and was blessed to be in her
condo. She made an incredible impression on me as a completely fearless, lean
mean riding machine, who was also a barrel of laughs and a great encourager.
Christy must have trademarked Just Do It before Nike thought of it, because
she could just do anything, and she helped us believe that we could too. Although I gave up mountain biking due to working full-time and my fear of
single track, I've been road biking and have done two triathlons this year.
My tires haven't touched dirt since that WOW weekend, and I never saw Christy
again, but I've thought of her so often because she was such an inspiration
to me. I was tickled by her emails. Whenever she had a day off from school
she seized the day and set up a group ride. I can't tell you how many times
I wanted to just walk out of work, go home and get my dusty mountain bike
and join her at El Morro. She had an incredible zest for life, and I would
have
voted her most likely to still be mountain biking when she turned 105.
None of us understands why this happened, but we do know that the Lord works
everything for good. I'm betting that the three blessed recipients of Christy's
organs are going to be feeling pretty good in a few weeks and are going to
be wondering why they keep having this desire to go mountain biking. Then
they will start believing that they can climb I Think I Can, and maybe we'll
have
three more Trail Angels or Trail Males.
I haven't seen most of you since WOW 2004. I was the one who was so
bruised, Yee-Ha Nancy taped ice packs to my knees! I think of you all often
and read
every email and look at every photo, and laugh at every joke. I'm mourning
with you now. But I want to encourage you all to keep riding and praying
and sharing your faith because you've touched a lot of people's lives,
even some
you haven't seen in a long time.
God bless you all, and especially Christy's family.
Barbara Danzi
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Christy was an amazing spirit, who's company I had the pleasure
to join on a few rides through El Moro. Try as I may, I can't
picture her without a huge grin on her face, even while we climbed
the nastiest hills that the trail had to offer.
The first time I met Christy for a ride, was at her house.
She was the only Trail Angel that I knew who lived close
to me. In
fact, she lived just down the street. Because of this, and
because she has a parking pass to El Moro, she offered to
drive/carpool
for our ride. On the way down, it became apparent that Christy
was blatantly more familiar with El Moro than I, and she seemed
to have a confident air about her with regards to riding (especially
the climbs) that somewhat intimidated me, although she was
very modest with regards to her riding ability.
Christy suggested
a route that I had not taken before, with a bit of warning
that there are 3 difficult hills leading
to the
fun single track. "Don't worry if you don't make it up the
hills, it took me a long time to get up them" she said.
Eager to try new trails, I agreed to her suggestion, but
secretely worrid that I would be too slow for her. My worries
were soon
alleviated, as Christy waited patiently at the top of each
of those hills, cheering me on (even after I dismounted from
my
bike). All the while, no matter how slow, Christy never stopped
smiling, and continued to cheer me on, with the tenacity
of a Winnig Super Bowl Cheer Leader; she helped me find my
own confidence
on those hills that day (though I didn't make it up every
one). Today, although I couldn't ride with her, I rode in
remembrance.
I know that, if she could, Christy would want
us to: celebrate her spirit by embracing life;
climb the impossible hill, to see how possible it is to accomplish
what we dream;
relish in the treasures that lie in our backyards, and
all around us;
smile, because we can;
And, to know that her spirit is still cheering us all on!My thoughts and prayers are with her family,
Rachel Park
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 I
first met Christy at Women’s
Only Weekend (WOW) in 2004. I rode with her in El Moro a few
weeks later when I had my epic crash. Christy was so concerned—she
gave me a ride home, unloaded my bike and made sure I was OK
before she left.
I will never forget
Christy. I called her “The Animal” because
she was one long, lean muscle and she was so intense. When she
showed up for a ride, I knew it was going to be a work-out—no
leisurely ride that day! But her intensity was balanced with
a positive attitude, lots of encouragement and a funny sense
of humor. I will miss her data-head analysis on how long it took
to climb that hill, what our average speed was, and our altitude
gain. I will miss the pacifier hanging on the back of her bike
and the sticker on her bike that says “Your Bike Sucks.” She
kept me entertained---not only on the trail, but reading her
emails, too. I loved her sayings and think of them often. “Happiness
is looking down and finding another gear,” and “We
do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because
we quit playing.” We had many fun rides together, and were
even able to ski together in Big Bear.
God blessed Christy’s life with a zeal for living and
enjoying His creation. And she did that as much as she could.
We may never know why her life was taken so early, so tragically.
At least she died doing one of the things she loved to do. She
has made an impact in so many people’s lives. I will always
remember her fondly, with a smile on my face, a pacifier on my
bike and a “Your Bike Sucks” sticker on my bike.
It brings to mind an email she sent out a few years ago; I can’t
remember it word-for-word, but it was something like: “Life
is not about arriving at the end with perfect hair, perfect nails
and a perfect body, but rather sliding in full-speed with dust
flying, all scraped up, a smile on your face and saying, “Wow!
What a ride!”
And that’s
exactly what Christy did!
Nancy
May (“Yeeha”)
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Where is Christy?
Is heaven a far away place?
Can she watch us from above?
Did it hurt?
When did she actually "leave" her body?
Did she know we were there for her?
Is she eating at a big table with God right now?
Do they have bikes up there? (I bet there's no whining.)
We have so many questions... at least I do.
I do know a couple of things though, the basics:
"
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
John
3:16
also
" He saves us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in
righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing
of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured
out upon us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, that
being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according
to the hope of eternal life."
Titus 3:5-7
It is a sad time for us as we grieve the loss of our friend,
Christy;
but don't be afraid to "go into your grief, for there you
will find your soul"- Carl Jung
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I first
met Christy at WOW 2004. We both were very cautious downhill and
fought for who would bring in the
rear of the group. It was our thought that no one else could
see us fall, if we did ;) ;) By the way, we all ate dirt that
year. But it was fun.
She was always
gracious and smiling even up those darned hills. Christy had
a zest for life that was so
contagious! I will miss riding with her.
Paula Hunsaker
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 Christy
was the beautiful, strong, spirited leader of our group. She
always posted rides to the "Extreme
Angels.” (That's what we called
ourselves.) Of course, everyone was welcome, but they had to
be ready for pain and adrenaline, hence the pacifiers. We all
had one, since none of us were exempt from whining at one time
or another.
When Christy posted
the rides, she would say, “If nobody
shows, I’m still going any way.” She LOVED going
UP the luge (yes, you read that right), UP Rockit, UP Linx, and
she even developed a taste for the extreme downhill.
 She asked
me if I would work on Stair Steps with her soon, and we had
so many plans. Lately, our Saturdays were reserved
for
road riding with Chris and Christy, then lunch after. Christy
also planned to get me back on the downhill by taking me
skiing and I was very scared! I knew she’d end up talking me into
going sooner than later, although I haven’t been on
my skis in 15 years plus.
Christy became a stronger
rider in every way, riding on the average of four times a week.
When she wasn't riding, she was
kickboxing or skiing. I looked forward to my daily “CK” e-mails
and trail trivia. She was such a big part of my life, and riding
will never be the same without her. She was the heart and soul
of our group, the glue that kept us together.
 Everyone that met
Christy could not help but admire her. She was a feisty, tells
it like it is, kind, loving, amazing athlete
and close friend! Fifty-one was just a number to her; she was
51 going on 31. She and Debi Nicholls would call us younger ones “the toddlers.” They
would say to each other, “Are you riding with the toddlers
today?”
 Christy was the best Mother to her son, Corey and a loving wife
to Chris. She would make Chris work soooooo hard just to keep
up on the road rides. Whenever a hill came up, she was gone,
and that's what it was like mountain biking with her. Christy
did everything in
a BIG way and people flocked to her.
The love and support for Christy are astounding to me, yet that
reflects exactly the kind of person she was. I know she will
be right with me and many others on every ride from now on.
Christy has given the gift of life to others through the organ
donor program, and has made us all better people knowing her.
I love you, Christy and will never forget you! I thank God you
have touched my life.
Debbie Brown
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To my fellow riders, sisters and brothers
in Christ,
Words can not describe the floods of emotions that are running
through my heart. I can say thank you, for everyone's kind words
and remembrances. They have been an unimaginable comfort. So
I will try to share some of my own and perhaps continue the path
of healing.
The blessing amidst this tragedy is that I have now connected
to those who have shared how their lives have been changed by
the loss of a loved one. I don't know how this kind of grief
works but I know I have endless angels, brothers and sisters
that will surround and grieve with me in the days and weeks and
months to come.
From this day forward, I want to let go of any regrets I may
carry around with me. I want to live with forgiveness in my heart
and lift those up in prayer around me who may be hurting. I want
to live with gratitude for all the Lord's blessings in my life.
Including my broken bike because it still works.
I don't want to live one more minute of my life worrying about
the small stuff. I want to learn to trust the Lord completely
with all of my heart and soul and strength. I will carry a pacifier
to remind me and whenever I fall short I will remember my friend's
wisdom "get over it, let's go ride, you'll feel better".
I want to live my life with conviction. My dear friend embraced
this attitude and exemplified it in every aspect of her life.
At home with the husband she adored and the child she cherished.
At school with the students and staff she was committed to. In
the mountains with the friends and family she loved to play with.
In the community where she gave back without hesitation. And
most importantly to herself, the most holistically healthy woman
I know.
I want to embrace the joy of life that surrounds me Even when
that means embracing the PAIN. I want to embrace half the sense
of humor Christy exuded. I will never forget her infectious smile.
I want to live today as if it were my last. I want to find purpose
in every opportunity the Lord provides me and embrace it completely
without hesitation, questions or doubt.
I want to love today and tomorrow like I have never loved before.
So get ready to hear those words a lot from me and I hope you
like hugs cause they will no longer be left behind.
Pastor Rick Warren shared a series of "Leaving a Legacy".
Well Christy has certainly done that. The memories of my dear
friend will live on in me forever. She will never be far away
from my heart. And the lessons she shared by her presence in
our lives hopefully will rub off and be passed on in her memory.
Rest well my friend. I hope you have found Peace in Heaven.
Beth Philipp aka Ched
PS Christy wanted to make sure that we got out and road our bikes
this coming Tuesday December 5th. Aliso Woods parking lot 3:15
meet 3:30 take off. Loop should take no longer than 1.5 hours.
Back before dark. Intermediate pace. NO WHINING ALLOWED!!!!
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Hello to all who knew and loved Christy,
Unfortunately I did not get to know Christy on earth, I am grateful
that I will get to know her in heaven. She impacted so many people.
I am very sorry to all those who are hurting and missing her,
the pain must be incredible. I want to follow Beth's example
for my life (because I know her example is God inspired). I will
pray for everyone who has been touched by Christy, she appears
to have accomplished what God intended from her on earth.
In Christ's Love,
Lisa Yellott (I do still consider myself a Trail Angel, even
if you haven't seen me in long time)
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 I
cannot began to tell you the devastation within OCRR that this
tragic event has caused. In the short time
that we had Christy with us we, within OCRR, grew to truly appreciate
Christy for the wonderful person that she is. I say "is" because,
for us, she will always be the cheerful, joyus and outgoing center
at our rides.
I didn't go to the memorial ride today because I had made a choice
of honoring Christy in my own way. I rode out of my house early
this morning. The morning was cold, crisp and beautiful. As
I rode along the coast I looked out at the ocean. It was so
very clear that I could clearly see both Palos Verdes and Catalina
Island.
I just rode slowly along the coast and thought about Christy,
her family and her friends. I thought about hearing her laugh
at the coffee stops, seeing her smile when she was doing something
that she truly loved doing with her husband. I thought about
the joy that brought to all of those that she came in contact
with, especially her family.
Eventually
I arrived at the Belmont Shores pier, rode out to the end,
grabbed a
cup of coffee and just sat there looking out
at the ocean. It was beautifully calm. The sun was glistening
on the water and I thought that it would have been a ride that
Christy would have loved. When I finished I hoisted the cup and
softly said "Here's to you Christy" That is how I chose
to remember her.
I have lost far to many friends during my life and I also thought
about them. I thought about my friends that I lost during my
tour in Viet Nam. Friends that I had coffee with in the morning
and never saw them again. The loss of life is always tragic and
even more tragic with that loss happens under such senseless
circumstances.
To say that I, along with all of OCRR are sad, devastated and
at a loss would be an understatement. I would like to offer the
very most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Christy's family
and friends on behalf of all of The Orange County Rebel Riders.
Christy was special yesterday and she will be special tomorrow
and forever.
Jess
Guaderrama
PS.
I rode to the memorial this afternoon. I am glad I went alone
as I was unable to hold back lots of tears... I guess I
can always say that it was the wind that made my eyes tear
up..
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Christy
loved music. I use to give her a hard time becuase she
was a gadget girl like high tech Heather. When she started
showing up to rides with her I tunes plugged in I told
her to listen to the sounds of nature instead. (She didn't,
she kept them plugged in and reassured me she was paying
attention to the conversation).
One of the songs she had programmed in was Josh Groban's "You
Raise Me Up". A favorite of many of us who share the
same spirit. It played the day we road out to the site
and it is just so fitting. I thought I would share the
words.
You Raise Me Up
When I am down and all my soul so weary
When troubles come and my heart burden thee
That I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit a while with me
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormie seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a comfort knowing we can find peace and healing in
our faiths and in each other. I pray that for today
and tomorrow to come that we all strive to be more than
we
can be.
Love ya angels (and trail males) Ched
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ANGEL ON THE TRAIL
 A ride is posted and a group of enthusiastic women show up to do what they love to do. Bikes are unloaded from their cars and the chatter escalates. Some are filling up tires or lubing chains anticipating this ride shared with friends.
We hear about the challenges and joys that we’ve experienced throughout the day and occasionally you’ll hear the list of reasons why they won’t be performing to par.
As we prepare to pray, new women are welcomed and new friendships created.
Each ride presents a sort of magic as we spend this quality time together doing what we love and experiencing the physical and mental challenge together. Each ride also solidifies the bond between friends, we are not here primarily for our own benefit, but to help encourage one another and laugh.
Christy was one of those friends that most of us created a bond with. She was the perfect icon for a Trail Angel. She was an answer to prayer for me because of her unsurpassed leadership skill, enthusiasm and encouragement to many. She has left a legacy not only to us, but also to the many people that had the benefit of crossing her path.
 I will miss her infectious smile and her love for life. Let us all model her life by carrying on her many wonderful traits, especially the love she had for all of us.
This group has experienced numerous challenges, but I never thought one would end this way. The life application we have developed going through these difficult times has been to love one another unconditionally, come together in support and know how to prioritize what is important. I pray that our light shines ever so bright to many as they have observed how we handle what has come our way.
Don’t be angry with our Father, He has a plan and length of time for you to exist on His beautiful creation. So just “Be Prepared, Not Scared” and live your life as a future legacy to others by loving them now. Be an angel on and off the trail.
May God place his hedge of protection around this group and may it continue to grow according to His perfect plan, a safe and fun place where friendships blossom!
God Bless You Christy, you have left us a legacy as well as a place in our hearts.
Jacke
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I wanted to tell someone of
the great day I remember spending with Christy on skis,
on the TA ski day we did for Beth's birthday earlier
this year. She was fun, full of life and a great skiier.
I wish I had more time to spend with her, but with God's
plan, I know we will see each other one day later when
it was time, and I can get to know her better. I know
that we did ride together at least a few times, its hard
to remember who is who (short brain waves here) when
you are in a group of 6 or more. However, I do remember
she did have an unforgetable smile and positive can-do/lets
have fun attitude I was caught up by.
God Bless all my great friends I have found in the Trail
Angels, thanks for the memories ladies! Sorry I missed
the party! Karen Paliska (soon again to be aka Mountain Goat!)
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