Whitehall resident Abby Ryan is taking to the trail to raise money for a personal cause.

In honor of her mother, Ryan is doing a bike challenge for leukemia and lymphoma. During the month of September, she is planning to log 150 miles on the Ironton Rail Trail.

Her mother, Cathy Barlok, was diagnosed with leukemia in October 2021. She died a short two months later - five days before Christmas.

Barlok was the activities director and volunteer coordinator at Fellowship Community, Whitehall, for more than 20 years. She organized farmers markets, auctions, art and antique shows, country fairs, Halloween events and more.

Ryan reported Robert Zentz, former president and CEO of Fellowship, used to say Barlok was “the best activities director in the world.”

There is even a bench at Fellowship Community with her name on it, as of Aug. 26. According to Ryan, Fellowship received a number of donations in Barlok’s memory, so a bench was dedicated.

“My mom would do anything for anyone, especially the residents and her staff at Fellowship Community,” Ryan said. “If they needed help financially or in any other way, she was right there to help. When she saw residents or her staff didn’t have clothes, she’d clean out her closet and give them hers. That’s the kind of person she was.”

Ryan shared a story about a time when an employee mentioned not having enough money for her home heating bill during the winter, so Barlok gave her the money she needed.

Ryan reported her mother took on both roles of mother and father when Ryan’s dad left them while she and her sister, Amanda Miller, were young.

“She worked so hard to give my sister and me the best lives we could possibly have while teaching us to be strong, independent women,” Ryan said. “She was the kind of person who put everyone else before herself and was always there for her family when we needed her.”

Ryan noted Barlok loved being a grandmother. Both Ryan and Miller have two children; however, Barlok only got to meet three of her grandchildren.

“The best way my sister and I can honor our mom is to be the kind of mother she was to us,” Ryan said.

While going through treatments, Barlok would say “once she beat leukemia, she was going to volunteer and sit with those people who didn’t have anyone,” Ryan said.

After losing her mother, Ryan admitted volunteering with other patients was not something she was emotionally able to do. This fundraiser allowed her to give back in her own way.

Ryan reported she goes out and rides her bike whenever she can to reach the goal. She reached 120 miles as of Sept. 25. She tries to get out riding at least four times a week, depending on the weather and her duties to her family.

Ryan’s original goal was $1,000. She raised the goal to $1,500 Sept. 5 due to the high number of donations.

“I’m not surprised because my mom was very active in her community,” Ryan said.

After exceeding that amount, she set her sights on reaching $2,000. As of Sept. 28, she raised $2,025, using Facebook. Donations can be made by going to the Abby E. Ryan Facebook page.

It is fitting she is using Facebook for outreach since she first heard about the fundraiser from a sponsored Facebook post by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

“When I ride for her, I often talk to her,” Ryan said of her mother. “As someone I used to talk to every single day, her presence is greatly missed.”

She said she is doing this bike challenge in the hopes that one day, a cure is found to prevent other families from losing loved ones in that way.

“I just want people to remember her and everything she gave to this community,” Ryan said.