Photo by Tyrone Walker/Post and Courier

Charles Fox is geared up and ready to bike over 3000 miles across the country starting April 1.

Provided

Charles Fox (left) and Chaplain Rob Dewey are shown at a lunch last Tuesday at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church.

It was a lunch with a purpose – to cheer on the local businessman before he bikes over 3,000 miles across the country to raise funds for  the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy (CCC).

Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church members Walt Martin and Lewis Lee hosted the lunch, and other community members were present to support Fox.

Fox knows the importance of crisis assistance.

Owner  of the music store Fox Music House, started by his grandparents in 1928, Fox had one of his employees take his own life last year.

“You don’t have a preparation plan for that,”  said Fox, who again experienced tragedy recently when a devoted member of his staff died in a single-car collision on I-26 two days before Christmas.

For these incidents, he called on the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy.

This is an organization of staff and volunteer chaplains who provide support and comfort to the Lowcountry’s law enforcement and emergency personnel, as well as citizens in the aftermath of unexpected tragedies.

In 2008 alone, Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy responded to more than 1300 calls.

Fox said that the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy was helpful in notifying the family and handling details with the coroner and funeral home.

“It was like having a lighthouse in a rough sea,” he said. “It is something you don’t know you need until you need it. When a family is in need or a community in distress, the call for support often reaches to the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy.  This is exactly what occurred at Fox Music House during the holiday season.”

Because of his positive experiences with the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, Fox is gearing up to give back to the ministry to ensure that it is around for many years to come.

This is not Fox’s first bike ride across America or his first time biking to give back to a Lowcountry charity.

Chaplain  and founder of Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, Rob Dewey said, “it warms my heart to know that someone is willing to bike 3,000 miles for the benefit of the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy. We are blessed that the greater Charleston community believes in the mission of our ministry, and we are truly honored that Mr. Fox has chosen the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy as the recipient of the funds.”

Fox, along with 15 other cyclists, begins his ride April 1 from San Diego, Calif. The ride will end in  St. Augustine, Fla. on May 10.

The goal is 1,000 donations at an average of $36 each to set up an endowment with the Coastal Community Foundation which will ultimately benefit Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy 100 percent.

“Many people think we are funded by the government, but we depend on individuals, congregations and businesses for the majority of our funding,” Dewey said.

Fox along with his  wife Missee are contributing to the trip.

His budget is $41 a day.

Fox said that he has been training and, “some days are better than others.”

One day he will ride 30 miles; another day  40 miles.

“The problem is there will be hills for the first part of the race,” Fox said.

‘Open arms’

“The Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy is here for you when you need us. When you need the services of the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, we will be there with open arms and listening ears,” Dewey said.

According to Fox, “when anyone in our community is in need, the CCC is there for us, and we want to be there for them now in their time of need.”

Fox’s proposed itinerary says that he will average 76 miles a day.

Check out his efforts  at www.HELP3C.blogspot.com.

(Helen Ravenel can be reached at helen@moultrienews.com. Comment on this story online at www.moultrienews.com.)