Mary Champagne and Suzy McClure: Rider Profile

Friendship is a bond like no other, and it can make overcoming the obstacles we face in life easier, if not fun. For riders Mary Champagne and Suzy McClure, friendship has driven them to travel many miles together, both on foot and on a bike. And although they travel for a good cause, what makes their journeys priceless are the times they get to spend with one another.

Who or what drives your ride? Why do you ride and fundraise for the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride?

After a few years of walking, doing 10Ks, and doing half marathons together, we decided we needed a new challenge. For us, bike riding is it! We have a couple of good friends who have done this ride, so we decided to do it. The purpose of the Mamma Jamma Ride really speaks to us. We like that the funds raised by the ride directly benefit local women in Central Texas.

What about the Mamma Jamma Ride makes riding a valuable experience?

This was our first charity ride, and it was such a fun, positive experience. Everyone was so supportive, encouraging, and just plain nice! We found the training rides to be very helpful, and the ride guides were great. Mardi, in particular, was so patient and generous with her knowledge, and we loved that she gave us so many pointers and tips. And on top of it all, the spa towels at the end of the ride were wonderful! We don’t know how the Mamma Jamma Ride compares to other rides, but we would bet it sets the bar pretty high above the others. We are already looking forward to next year, and setting new goals. Our bibs this year were 22 and 23, and we are aiming for 1 and 2 next year!

Do you have any advice on fundraising or participating in the ride for those who are first time riders?

We were both a little apprehensive about the fundraising aspect of the ride. Fortunately, neither of us has had to deal with a breast cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, though, we have many family members and friends who have. We thought of those people when we started asking for donations. We used social media and emails to solicit donations. We were surprised how quickly the donations came in and how generous people were. We realized that all you need to do is ASK! We both achieved Big Wig status from the generosity of our friends and family. As for advice on riding it the first time: Participate in the training rides! This is a safe way to get in your miles. Also, as a newbie to riding, it is nice to have some routes already planned.

Tell us a little about yourselves.

Suzy is a native Texan and came to Austin in 1996, while Mary moved to Austin from Massachusetts in 1994. Mary and Suzy met one another through Suzy’s husband, as Mary works at the same company as he does. Suzy had been running and walking for several years, participating in marathons, half marathons, and other races before Mary joined Suzy’s walking group. After that, they started doing foot races together, and they’ve gotten to know each other very well through traveling many miles together.

They both have a passion for volunteerism and are members of the women’s volunteer organization, Austin Junior Forum. They both love to travel, read, and drink wine. Mary loves to scrapbook, Suzy loves to garden, and they each have two adult children. While Mary still works for Tokyo Electron America, Inc. leading the procurement team, Suzy is enjoying retirement.

Are you on a team? If so, tell us a little bit about your experiences riding and fundraising as a team member.

We were recruited by Hilda with Titti Babies and are happy that our donations help the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride through our team.

We both agree that doing these challenges with a friend is the best way to do them. We have fun, for sure, but when one of us needs encouragement or is just having a bad day, the other is there with some kind words or even just a sympathetic ear. We have crossed many finish lines together and don’t plan to stop any time soon!

By Alex Keefe, Communication Intern