Now, imagine you’re a middle schooler.
Hard to imagine, right? Not for Megan Mitchell.
This year marked the 12th Annual Toys for Tots Trailride in Trigg County, an event started by Gordon and Martha Mitchell, Megan’s late parents.
Martha passed away six years ago and Gordon earlier this year. In recent years, Gordon and Megan had made a tradition out of preparing the trail for the ride, while Gordon had led the ride itself.
This year, Megan led the ride and prepped the trail with a few others.
The event has been traditionally well-attended, and despite rain this year, over 180 riders took part. The event raised $3,550 for Trigg County Toys for Tots, which benefits underprivileged youth at Christmas.
Obviously, an event of this magnitude is too much for one person to undertake, let alone a young teenager. However, that shouldn’t diminish how amazing it is that Megan has taken it upon herself to stay involved in the ride and that she plans to continue to do so as a tribute to her parents.
She has a strong support group surrounding her, and they deserve credit, as well. They, and the rest of us in this community, should be proud of Megan.
Her parents will be remembered by many in the area as the previous owners of Cadiz Restaurant. Many will also remember Gordon for his involvement with the Kentucky Junior Rodeo Association.
KJRA has a rodeo scheduled for this weekend in Sturgis, and they have asked participants to add to their entry fee a new toy to be donated to Toys for Tots in Gordon’s honor.
Those who knew Gordon and Martha so well and miss them should take comfort in the fact that their daughter is doing their memory proud.
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If you see me around town in the next few weeks and I appear less than lively, there will be a few good reasons for it.
1. My family and I are in the process of selling our home and moving into a new one a few blocks away. Pretty stressful stuff by itself, but add the currently tough housing market and the fact that we’re moving into a nearly-100-year-old house that needs a little tuning up here and there, and you’ve got a recipe for ... something more than typical stress. Can’t find the word for it.
2. Work has been crazier than usual. Illness has hit our staff recently, and I’m thisclose to buying a surgical mask or astronaut’s suit to wear through the holidays.
3. It’s the holidays. Everyone has to deal with that, I know. Still, I might could handle 3 if not for 1 and 2.
Justin McGill is executive editor of The Cadiz Record and can be reached by email at jmcgill@cadizrecord.com.
