Foster 100 riders honor vets
SAXONBURG — A group of cyclists pedaling the steep hills of Western Pennsylvania Saturday said the Army captain they were honoring with their sweat would have approved of the grueling ride.
The 13 cyclists were participating in the first Foster 100: Oil to Iron bicycle ride to honor Capt. Erick Foster, a 29-year-old Army troop commander and paratrooper from Oil City in Venango County, who was killed in action in 2007 while serving in Iraq.
The cyclists raised more than $10,000 to obtain, train and provide service dogs at no cost to veterans across the mid-Atlantic region who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The 100-mile ride started in Foster's native Oil City and finished at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh, where Foster joined the Army.The group, all clad in bicycle gear commemorating Foster and the ride, made stops at the North Washington Rodeo grounds in Washington Township, as well as the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Department for a quick rest, snack and rehydration.“I think Erick would think it's awesome,” said Matt LaVerde of Oil City, who grew up with Foster until Foster's family later moved to Franklin Park, Allegheny County. “He was always a guy who was all about overachieving and pushing himself, and 100 miles is a lot.”For the last seven years, the group rode in the Foster 100, which started in Philadelphia and ended in Cape May, N.J.LaVerde said cycling is not one of his hobbies, but he participates in the ride each year to memorialize and honor his friend.“I do this once a year and this year, I'm struggling with the hills,” LaVerde said.
Nick Liebmann, founder of Team Foster, said the ride from Philadelphia to Cape May happened in September. The Oil to Iron ride was added to traverse the countryside where Foster was born, raised, graduated from North Allegheny High School and Duquesne University and entered the Army.“Coming here just makes sense,” Liebmann said.He said Philadelphia is much flatter than the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania.“Erick was about doing things that were hard, and this ride is very much a challenge,” Liebmann said.He said as the ride was being completed, Foster's alumni ROTC battalion in Pittsburgh completed a “bicycle crunch” challenge fundraiser by performing the sit-up type exercise at regular intervals on Saturday morning and afternoon.
“We do the bike riding and they do the crunching,” Liebmann explained.As the riders finished the water and snacks provided at the fire hall by the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, Liebmann deemed the Foster 100: Oil to Iron ride a success.“We're super grateful for all of the hospitality from all of our friends from Oil City to Butler County to Pittsburgh,” he said.Bob Kellner, Foster's uncle, rode in the pickup truck that followed the cyclists on their route.“I'm here to show support from the family,” Kellner said. “They are really appreciative. These guys are keeping Erick's memory alive and helping the veterans.”Amy Pack, director of tourism development at the tourism bureau, said the organization was happy to provide refreshments to the riders.“We are supporting our service personnel and the sacrifices they make for us,” Pack said. “We are more than pleased to support them in any way we can.”
