2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope this email finds that you are enjoying your summer. Wild Bill and I, once again, are setting off on a 78-mile ride through the Colorado Rocky Mountains to raise money for Parkinson's. This will be the seventh year in a row that I am riding the Copper Triangle and the third year with Wild Bill on the tandem. Last year we completed the ride in 13.5 hours. With some serious training and a stringent diet administered by my mom, Wild Bill has dropped weight and is ready to rip!

This year was a great one for our family! Mom and Dad celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last August with friends and family on the farm. We officially welcomed Nate Rittenberry to the “circus” as he and Brooke were married in October. Wild Bill used his 1922 Model T in the wedding festivities and created lasting memories for everyone with his speech. He followed this up with a New Year’s appearance on the beach of Nicaragua to witness me proposing to Jennie Pruehs. He’ll be returning to Nicaragua in March 2015 for Jennie’s and my wedding.

I hope you can take some time to check out the new Wild Bill's Warriors website (www.wildbillswarriors.org). Brad Anderson, a longtime friend, is helping get the site in great shape.

As always, thank you for the continued support. Please let me know if you will be in the CO area the first weekend in August as Wild Bill and I would love to hang out.

Dear Family and Friends,

I was hoping to send out a quick update about how the bike ride was an absolute monster of a success this year with over $11,000 raised and a record time of 12 hours for Wild Bill and me on the bike. Thank you for all of your support!

Unfortunately, I also need to include news that my father passed away this week. There's some kind of master plan out there...Brooke spent time at home this week with Mom and Dad prior to starting her new job, and Jennie and I joined Wild Bill on Sunday for a day filled with swimming, cigar smoking, wine drinking and his favorite meal of steak and potatoes. Wild Bill passed away Monday morning. I do not think it would have been possible to create a more perfect last week for Bill -- he was surrounded by loved ones doing all of his favorite things!

Although Wild Bill has passed, he will live on forever through all of his friends and loved ones -he'll never be forgotten. We will continue riding and partying in an attempt to find a cure for Parkinson's and to honor the one and only, Wild Bill.

Here is a link to Wild Bill's obituary, which includes information on the wake, service and celebration: http://www.mywebtimes.com/obituaries/william-r-bill-halcott/article_33e26a0777c4-57b6-af76-737149a187f1.html I would also like to share something I wrote about his passing below, which includes a great shot of my buddy and me:

You put off that trip, wait to learn something new or never get started on that project. Life is far too short to not live, love or scare yourself.

As many of you know I lost my best friend yesterday...my father, Wild Bill. Billy was more than a father -- he was a friend, mentor and coach. Our time together on a bike, in a pool or restoring a car was incredibly special and I would not change one minute. 14 years ago Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and since that time my family has grown to the tight group we are today. Wild Bill not only survived with Parkinson's, he thrived. He and I viewed the world through the lens we chose; not one dictated by a terrible disease.

Although the pain of his loss runs deep, I take solace in the fact that both he and I have no regrets. As you read this, I implore you to make sure you will not have any regrets either. We have one precious life and there are unfortunately no second chances.

We will be having a wake on this coming Friday, September 5 from 3 to 7 p.m. followed by the funeral on September 6 at 11 a.m. In typical WB fashion, Saturday's festivities will be a celebration.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Wild Bill's Warriors (www.wildbillswarriors.org).

Farewell Dad, I love you. I am looking forward to the day we are on a beach together again good friend.

~Be Wild