Roger Grooters of Gulf Breeze dips the rear wheel of his bike in the Ocean in Ocean Beach on Sept. 10.
by Joe Culpepper / Gulf Breeze News
A Gulf Breeze couple is riding across America in support of the families who are victims of the Gulf Coast Oil Spill.
In recent years, the Gulf Coast has been slammed by hurricanes, recession, and now the largest oil spill our country has ever experienced. The cumulative effect of these disasters has caused extensive pain and suffering.
Feeling an obligation to help their brothers and sisters in need, Roger and Vicki Grooters of Gulf Breeze embarked Friday, Sept. 10 on a cross-country ride. Roger is riding his bicycle from Ocean Beach in San Diego, Calif., to Jacksonville – a distance of approximately 3,200 miles. Vicki is providing the physical and psychological support.
“Our communities are experiencing growing numbers of homeless (including children), housing foreclosures, personal and business bankruptcies, divorce and suicide,” Roger Grooters, retired executive director of Cox Communications Academic Center for Student Athletes, wrote in one of his daily blogs.
“The natural beauty of our coastline has been damaged and in some areas lost forever. Animal, plant and sea life have been threatened, some to the point of extinction,” he said. “The loss of these natural resources has caused a loss of jobs and for some a loss of a way of life. The need for help is real and is great.”
On Tuesday, the Grooters were in west Texas near El Paso.
Any and all donations are appreciated, and 100 percent will be used by families in need. Donations can be made to assist victims of the oil spill through a special account set up through the Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. Make checks payable to Gulf Breeze UMC, 75 Fairpoint Drive, Gulf Breeze, 32561 with “Oil Spill Response” in the memo, or go to www.gbumc.org and click on the red “Give Now” button. Then fill out the form with “Oil Spill Response” in the “other” category.
Follow Roger and Vicki Grooters’ adventures at his daily blog: http://rogerxcountry .
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Roger was killed today while riding his bicycle to in Bay County on his way to Jacksonville. This is a sad day.
It is indeed. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.
Kim, we here at the OB Rag are also truly saddened by this tragic news and Roger’s tragic death. Do you have any more details?
Here is a link to a local paper in Florida that was following Roger, with the details of his tragic death: http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2010-10-07/Front_Page/Gulf_Breeze_cyclist_killed_during_crosscountry_jou.html