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Bicycle ride honors West explosion victims and benefits 2-year-old girl battling cancer

Posted at 2:14 PM, Apr 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-24 21:31:37-04

On the fifth anniversary of the West Explosion, a Central Texas man rode his bicycle from Temple to West to honor the victims.

Danny McDonald started the 6th annual ride for West Pride at the Temple Fire & Rescue Central Station on Tuesday.

During his ride, which took almost four hours and 20 minutes, he stopped at several volunteer fire departments that responded to the explosion, including Troy, Bruceville-Eddy, Lorena, Ross and West.

Bruceville-Eddy and West Fire had firefighters who lost their lives in the blast on April 17, 2013.

“I’m thinking about all the people we lost that year and the families what they are going through that day," McDonald said.

McDonald admits riding 55 miles is challenging but honoring the victims is important to him.

“A couple of years I had a back fusion in my lower spine and this year I had a fusion on my neck. Physically is not easy,” McDonald said.

However, he said he continues to do because the families of the victims have gone through more than he has.

The ride is also a fundraiser for Avery Stone, a 2-year-old from West who is battling brain cancer. Currently, Stone is undergoing radiation treatment in Houston.

There is a GoFundMe page set up to help the family. There is also an account called the Avery Stone Benefit Fund set up at the State National Bank in West for donations.

There is also a P.O. Box set up for anyone who wishes to send cards, letters, donations or just well wishes to sweet Avery:

Avery Stone
P.O. Box 163
West, TX 76691

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