Ironman to Start 900-Mile Bicycle Ride on Wednesday to Benefit Tripp Halstead

On Wednesday, June 26, eight-time Ironman Dave Nazaroff will start a 900-mile, solo bicycle rise from New York to Jefferson, Ga. — a ride benefiting a Tripp Halstead, formerly of Winder. Two-year-old Tripp was critically injured in October 2012 at his day care center when a tree limb fell and struck him in the head. 

Nazaroff plans to personally deliver a check to the Halstead family, who now lives in Jefferson, on Monday, July 1, and will meet Tripp for the very first time. To date, Nazaroff has raised more than $120,000 for Tripp through the Toga Multisport Club Ride to Give.

The Nazaroff family learned about Tripp through social media. 

“When I looked at Tripp's picture I could not believe his resemblance to our two year-old son, George. Same age, blond hair, blue eyes, joyful grin,” Kaete Nazaroff, Dave’s wife, said in a press release. “I couldn't shake the thought of what if this happened to George? What if this happened to us? The Halsteads are an active, fun family just like we are." 

Before completing the last leg his journey, Nazaroff will stop one mile out at 10 a.m. in the Kroger parking lot at 1685 Old Pendergrass Road to pick up Tripp. The public is welcome to join the last stretch of the ride and a celebration at the Jefferson Recreation Complex at 2495 Old Pendergrass Road. Anyone interested in joining the ride is asked to be at Kroger at 9 a.m. 

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