BSG 2014: More than a Ride from WonderlandWoods.TV on Vimeo.
Blood, Sweat, and Gears – 2014 – 100 Miles from WonderlandWoods.TV on Vimeo.
By Jesse Wood
Sept. 23, 2014. The Wonderland Woods Productions team has produced, yet again, two more powerful videos, which were screened yesterday at The New Public House in Blowing Rock.
The videos, commissioned by Blood Sweat and Gears, are titled, “BSG 2014: More than a Ride” and “BSG 2014 – 100 Miles,” depict the positive impact that the annual charity ride has made on those less fortunate and the brutal challenge of cycling to the top of Snake Mountain.
BSG Ride Director Scott Nelson praised the Boone-based Wonderland Woods Productions, which consist of Eitan Abramowitz, Paul Halluch and Jerry Sebastian, for their “amazing work” and “great videos.” But more importantly, Nelson also said he was humbled by the individuals featured in “BSG 2014: More than a Ride.”
Blood Sweat and Gears began in the late ’90s as a benefit for the local chapter of the American Red Cross. It has since spun into a nonprofit itself, supporting Quiet Givers, Road2Recover athletes, local fire and rescue organizations, Kiwanis Club, Hunter’s Heroes and other worthy causes. The 2012 and 2013 rides netted $169,000 for various local charities.
With the help of these proceeds, for example, Catherine Isaacs, who is featured in the video, was able to move from OASIS – after a domestic situation – to the Hospitality House shelter and then into a new residence.
“Which I am grateful for because otherwise, I wouldn’t have had anywhere else to go,” Isaacs said.
Another person in the video that is humbling and inspiring is Jon Clark, a BSG alum that was injured in a separate ride in May 2013 and couldn’t participate in BSG that year. While riding is bike in May 2013, a tractor trailer hit Clark, who said he later woke up in the hospital to find one of his legs amputated. Even though, he still couldn’t participate in 2014, Clark called up Nelson and said that he wanted to come up to the High Country for 2014 BSG.
“Jon you are quite an inspiration. People have gone through far less than you have and thrown in the towel,” Nelson told Clark.
“I am not going to let one minute of bad luck decide the rest of my life,” Clark responded.
As for the Wonderland Woods Productions team, projects that support the community and impact the lives of community members in a positive way are what drive Halluch, Sebastian and Abramowitz.
“We are very excited to get to partner with organizations that are making a difference in the community and to get to use our talents and passion for storytelling to basically support a cause and actually make a real difference in some of the lives like Catherine,” Halluch said. “It was very inspirational to get to hang out with her and interview her and actually see a tangible difference that Blood Sweat and Gears has made in the community. It’s why we do what we do.”
For more about Blood Sweat and Gears, click here.
For more about Wonderland Woods Productions, click here.
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