Ride of Life

Ride of Life A Four-Corner Memorial Harley Ride across the U.S. to raise awareness of ALS and build a Center of Compassion for Hospice of South TX. ONE LIFE.

The Ride of Life is, in essence, a ride for the Yellow Rose, a ride Randy Smith is taking across the United States in memory of his beautiful wife, Sophia, known nationwide as Avon’s Yellow Rose. A top saleswoman for Avon, Sophia succumbed to ALS in April of 2013 after a 28-month battle with the debilitating disease. Before she died, Avon honored this fiery executive with its first Yellow Rose Awa

rd, given to Avon leaders who demonstrate courage, strength, dignity and perseverance. The corporate giant also created the Sophia Smith Yellow Rose pendant, donating all proceeds of its sales to the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Avid motorcyclists, Sophia and Randy always dreamt of riding their beloved Harleys from coast-to-coast, “dipping a toe in each ocean,” Randy says. Unfortunately, Sophia was never able to realize that dream because her disease progressed so rapidly. So instead, the petite dynamo used her last months of life to give ALS a face and a voice

ONE DREAM. Now continuing this fight, Randy plans to take the Ride of Life for the two of them, doing so to raise awareness about ALS and to complete and in-patient center for Hospice of South Texas, a state of the art facility for those requiring intensive palliative care. In the last few months of Sophia’s life, Randy says, staff members of Hospice of South Texas were “like angels from heaven,” expertly caring for Sophia and giving the family some much-needed rest from the round-the-clock vigilance Sophia required. “HoST was so different from what we expected,” says Randy, who admits that he had no idea how helpful and uplifting the hospice experience would be. “Hospice of South Texas did so much for our family, I want to give back by helping them finish this center for those who cannot die at home, as Sophia was able to do.”

ONE RIDE. Randy plans to accomplish this by asking each person he meets on his nationwide tour to give at least $10 for Hospice’s new home-like end of life center. Traveling from South Texas to California, up the West Coast to Washington, across the Midwest to Maine, then down the East Coast to Florida, Randy will be making the ultimate "Poker Run," traveling to all four corners of the United States before returning to Texas. Won't you come along for the ride? Together, we can raise awareness for ALS and build a special center for the dying.

10/16/2024

My motto...... what ever you do, do it well.
If you don't do it well, do it twice and call it well

10/16/2024

Sometimes it takes me all day to get nothing done.

No s**t there I was...... Mary Jo has a couple guest. A professor and student from Aggieland. They drove in from College...
09/27/2024

No s**t there I was...... Mary Jo has a couple guest. A professor and student from Aggieland. They drove in from College Station, got here about 10 last night so we met them at the gate of the guest house.
Both vegetarians. Of course, we invited them over for breakfast tacos.
Being the chief cook and bottle washer I had veg tacos ready for them.
I was ready with my hog hat on in the kitchen.....man's gotta wear his colors on game day weekend. I can't wait, they have no idea I'm a Razorback.
They walk in the kitchen door with A&M wine
and coffee!!!!
Love it! They are here to study some critters, bugs n stuff. Drawing blood outta critters to take back to the lab.
GO HOGS!!!
SOOOOOOIE PIG!!!

I haven't posted on The Ride of Life page in a long long time.9 years ago today.1st day of my ride... over 16,000 miles,...
06/01/2023

I haven't posted on The Ride of Life page in a long long time.
9 years ago today.
1st day of my ride... over 16,000 miles, 66 days.
These old bikers rode with me the 1st day and a half. Some good dudes here.
A lot of great memories on that ride. All 4 corners of the great USA.
Seeing the country thru the handlebars of my Harley.
Maybe next year if I can gather a few friends we can do Texas to the West Coast to the East Coast and back to Texas.....ANNIVERSARY RIDE. ??!! Maybe 7-10 days?
Just a thought....
See ya in the wind

06/12/2020

I haven't posted here in years but I get very nostalgic this time of year. Reflecting back on this ride. If you see this, connect with me, Randy Smith. What a great ride... ride of a lifetime. 16,041 miles... 66 days riding the backroads of this great country. Im going to try to post memories every day this summer. Me n Big Country. Wow !! Stay tuned, I'll be on my Randy Smith Fb page..... maybe here to. Were you with me ? Give me a like, a share, how you doing these days? Embracing life? Live it every day! God Bless you and God Bless America.... see ya in the wind

My journey started in 2010 when my bride, Sophia, was diagnosed with ALS. 2 years later, after watching her suffer as t...
04/27/2017

My journey started in 2010 when my bride, Sophia, was diagnosed with ALS. 2 years later, after watching her suffer as this terrible disease slowing took her ability to talk, walk...as her body was shutting down...crippled by this muscle wasting disease. Knowing the end was near, as we were giving up hope but trying desperately to give her just one more day. Anything to bring a smile to her face, the only part of her body ahe could control....we opened the door to Hospice of South Texas. I'll never forget the first time they came in...they kindly said "we got this", escorted me out of the room... and for the first time in over 2 years someone other than me bathed her, changed her clothes and sheets on her bed. That moment when I walked back into her room and there she was ...smiling with that "hey look at me" ...it was then I realized what Hospice is all about. Caring, relieve, comfort...kindness beyond measure. Our world started crashing, spiraling down...like that long train slowly going off the bridge into the depths below in 2010. Devastated as our perfect world came tumbling down by a disease titled by 3 letters....ALS. A goal, a promise...a ride we always wanted to take. An opportunity to make that ride into a difference...Sharing our story about life and death. The impact of this disease lingers on...impossible to describe. But for sure, Hospice of South Texas was the bright and shining light...the care and comfort they provided...maybe my kids Callie, Zach, Jeff...maybe they can explain it better. I'd like to thank all those that participated in the Ride of Life...we did it. The Center of Compassion is complete...the "Sophia and Randy Smith Family/Ride of Life " is there!!! In the world of New Avon...she may not have made Platinum for Avon...but look!!! She made the Platinum list of Donors...for those that need a place of comfort in their last days. Sophia had a beautiful home to spend her last days...this center that WE ALL HELPED BUILD, can now help so many others do the same. If you knew her...you know that's how she would have wanted it. She would have wanted those less privileged to have a beautiful, caring, comfortable place to spend their last days. God Bless all of you that helped, and God Bless those wonderful folks at Hospice of South Texas. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...what an honor. High Five...give yourself a pat on the back....and always remember this...A DREAM IS JUST A DREAM UNTIL YOU PHYSICALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN....."see ya in the wind".....randy.

Day 4....June 4, 2014. Left Albuquerque. .lunch with Mark Strango in Winslow Arizona. ..."standing on a corner in Winslo...
06/04/2015

Day 4....June 4, 2014. Left Albuquerque. .lunch with Mark Strango in Winslow Arizona. ..."standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"...then rode down to Phoenix where I stayed for a couple days at the WestStar Corp Villa....wow!!!

Day 3...on the road to Albuquerque. There's always Vets out there enjoying the road. This guy was traveling the other w...
06/03/2015

Day 3...on the road to Albuquerque. There's always Vets out there enjoying the road. This guy was traveling the other way...met and visited while getting gas. Hoorah

Yesterday was 1 year that I took off on The Ride of Life. A tribute ride. ...a ride I promised I'd take for Sophia, my ...
06/02/2015

Yesterday was 1 year that I took off on The Ride of Life. A tribute ride. ...a ride I promised I'd take for Sophia, my bride. I promised her, on her death bed, that I'd leave home and go see alot of friends. ..and not come home until I'd put my toes in both oceans. Did that plus some. ..66 days, over 16,000 miles. All 4 corners of this great country of ours. Seen alot of old friends and made a lot of new friends. ..you know who you are. Rode with some good dudes. Reflecting back brings back a rush of memories. I'm going to be sharing my pictures of the road for the next 66 days. ..I'll try to keep them in order but. ...here goes. Hope you enjoy. ..stay tuned. ..see ya in the wind !!

A few days before Christmas a delivery girl dropped off a package. ..when I opened it this is what I found. All I can s...
12/31/2014

A few days before Christmas a delivery girl dropped off a package. ..when I opened it this is what I found. All I can say is. ..Thank You. ..whoever you are. ..and.....God Bless. ....randy

11/02/2014
11/01/2014

Randy Smith's Ride of Life adventure held its finale celebration Thursday at the Spring Creek Place Event Center. Smith's efforts to raise money for Hospice ...

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Victoria, TX
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