FMS Key Club Rallies Behind Tour de Valley

Fishburne Miliary School Key Clubbers man the comfort station at mile 40 of this year’s Tour de Valley. photo by Cadet Timothy Dudley (Henrico, VA)

Waynesboro, VA — Fifteen Cadets from the Fishburne Military School Key Club got up early and spent a gorgeous Saturday morning, last weekend, to show their support for two great causes. The boys, along with two advisors (Mrs. Debbie Todd and CPT David DuBose), volunteered to man one of the many hydration and rest stations along the route of the annual Tour de Valley bicycle trek.

The Tour de Valley is century (100-mile) or metric century (approx. 63 mi.) bike ride sponsored by the Waynesboro Parks and Recreation department as a fun way for valley cyclists to help raise money for local causes. In 2014 the Tour de Valley partnered with Fishburne Military School’s “Michael’s Ride” for the first time and donated $1000 to the Michael Woodard Memorial Scholarship Fund at FMS. That affiliation continued again this year and over 126 riders took part.

The FMS Key Clubbers saw all of the 126 participating bikers pass by as they manned the relief station at mile 40 of the arduous valley route. Stocked with water, Gatorade, sliced fruit, peanut butter sandwiches and other high-energy snacks, the Caissons did their part to keep up the riders’ spirits and energy levels.

FMS Key Club advisor and Kiwanian, Debbie Todd, noted that the event provides a unique opportunity for the young men in her club. “This is a fantastic opportunity for our boys to participate in something that serves the local community as well as the FMS community at the same time. We’re out here supporting our local cyclists and we’re out here in support of Fishburne through Michael’s Ride. It’s just a wonderful event.”

Michael’s Ride, an annual century ride at FMS, was begun by Mario Woodard in 2008 as a way to honor his son, Michael (FMS ’06), who was tragically killed in an auto accident during his freshman year of college.

Fishburne Military School is the oldest and smallest of all military schools for boys in Virginia. Its college-prep curriculum is built upon the structure of an Army JROTC program. Boasting a 100% college-acceptance rate for the past 10 consecutive years, FMS has also been designated as a JROTC Honor Unit with Distinction and may nominate qualified candidates to the United States Service Academics. Fishburne hosts one of only four Summer JROTC programs in the nation, accredited by US Army Cadet Command.