A big THANK YOU from Yvonne Kessel!

    Editor's note:  in early August, Stephanie Kessel died from injuries sustained in a traffic accident.  Her brother Mike, has been a longtime District 17 hillclimber.  Generous riders and other well-wishers have given donations for the Kessel family - here's a note from Yvonne, Stephanie and Mike's mother:

     Could you please post this attached message from our family. My daughter, Stephanie Kessel, died Aug 2nd from injuries in an auto accident. She was 17 years old and left a baby girl, Melanie behind. Melanie was 3 1/2 months old when her mother died. Her brother,
Michael Kessel (Oxbig) climbs with District 17. At the [White] Pines Hill Climb, a number of people collected donations in Stephanie's memory for her daughter Melanie. We are very touched as a family by all the kind support, thoughts, and prayers from District 17
and other hillclimbers and spectators. She was a very kind and loving person/mother and would be very grateful for all that was done to help her daughter.  She will be missed greatly by family and friends.

Yvonne Kessel
Mother to Stephanie and Michael