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Cyclist ends 2,600-mile charity ride in Clarksburg

Exponent Telegram photo by Kyle Jenkins Over 100 people gathered Saturday in Clarksburg to cheer for Frank Fumich, who rode 2,600 in 11 from California to Clarksburg, raising over $85,000 for Ryan Diviney. Fumich was competing in the Race Across America because Diviney was attacked and mercilessly beaten in 2009, and has been in a comatose state ever since. Diviney’s family needs over $1 million each year just to keep him alive.
Exponent Telegram photo by Kyle Jenkins
Over 100 people gathered Saturday in Clarksburg to cheer for Frank Fumich, who rode 2,600 in 11 from California to Clarksburg, raising over $85,000 for Ryan Diviney. Fumich was competing in the Race Across America because Diviney was attacked and mercilessly beaten in 2009, and has been in a comatose state ever since. Diviney’s family needs over $1 million each year just to keep him alive.

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — After biking 2,600 miles in 11 days to raise money to help a severely injured man and his family, Frank Fumich rode his bicycle Saturday toward a cheering crowd in Clarksburg and dismounted.

“What a two weeks it’s been,” Fumich shouted. “I went days without sleep, and literally forgot who I was. I’ve never done anything close to this magnitude.”

Fumich was competing in the Race Across America, which stretches from California to Maryland. Due to severe physical exhaustion and even abrasions, Fumich decided to end his adventure 400 miles from the finish line.

“I had mixed emotions yesterday when I realized I wasn’t going to finish,” Fumich said. “It’s pretty fitting for me to end in Clarksburg.”

Fumich’s mother was born in Clarksburg, but his family moved to Virginia. His grandmother, Genevieve Musci, and great aunt, Arlene Bashnett, still live in Clarksburg, and were holding signs when Fumich biked into town.

“He’s a good boy,” Musci said of her grandson.

“It’s wonderful, I think. I never expected all this,” Musci added.

Despite all the excitement and cheers, one man stood with reserved happiness and abundant gratefulness for Fumich’s accomplishments: Ken Diviney. That’s because Diviney’s son, Ryan, is the reason Fumich was in the race…

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