Tour de VRE
Anticipation filled the air as I arrived at VRE’s Fredericksburg office for the highly anticipated annual Tour de VRE. Now in its third year and boasting its largest turnout yet, there was much to do before the first riders crossed the finish line. As many of the VRE staff diligently unpacked platers of fresh fruit, desserts, crisp tablecloths, and a myriad of swag boxes for the riders from their cars, I wandered into the main tent. A group of men hung up the photo op banners and arranged chairs neatly around the bare tables. There was a DJ nearby playing upbeat pop songs that matched the energy of the hubbub perfectly. And in the corner of all this activity, amidst the chater and laughter, stood a small round table adorned with a bouquet bursting with red and yellow roses. The white cloth draped over the table danced in the wind as I approached, two frames on either side of the flower vase giving litle context but drawing me in nonetheless with the story of multiplying rice. Later, as the sponsors filtered in with their own booths and more families & friends arrived, I would get a chance to talk with Kip Foster and gain a deeper understanding of Tour de VRE’s heartfelt origins.
I hadn’t yet fully grasped the impact of Tour de VRE; how it was founded on the grounds of love and loss. Seeing all the effort on behalf of the entire office in the weeks leading up to the bike ride, I was beginning to piece together how deeply meaningful and important Tour de VRE is to the organization. The event was initiated to raise awareness and funds for triple negative breast cancer to honor Kip Foster’s late wife Maria Foster, who passed away in July of 2020. The event became a poignant way to honor her memory, turning grief into a powerful force for good.
To truly appreciate the magnitude of Tour de VRE, you’d first have to understand the magnitude of October 1985 when Kip Foster was working in a Christian bookstore at the mall that Maria happened to walk into with her mother. Their connection was instantaneous. After selling her a brand-new bible Kip knew he had to do whatever it took to see Maria again. What he didn’t know at the time was that Maria was already way ahead of him, playfully telling her mother that she would be dating him as they left the store. Kip and Maria began a charming game of hide and seek, unknowingly searching for each other in the stores they worked within. Kip looking for Maria in the Sears she was working at as she snuck peaks into the bookstore after him. After a few weeks of this Kip resolved to praying for a litle help and in a mere few days Maria would physically back into him in line at a Chick-fil-a. The rest is history.
In the wake of Maria’s passing, as Dallas Richards and a group of several other VRE employees drove down to North Carolina to atend her memorial service, they brainstormed ways to honor Maria’s memory and show support to their dear friend Kip Foster. Their brainstorming led to the creation of “Tour de VRE,” a heartfelt tribute that allowed them to channel their shared passion for cycling into a meaningful cause. Riding down the entire VRE line became a symbolic gesture, a testament to their enduring friendship and support for Kip. In two short months, they organized the first Tour de VRE, turning it into a fundraising event held in October, coinciding with breast cancer awareness month. They only had thirteen riders that very first year. It’s come a long way and as it’s gained momentum and grown to the remarkable gathering it is today. VRE raised $4,500 for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation with its biggest turnout yet.
Kip Fosters connection to VRE runs deep, intertwined with his family’s journey. Having relocated to Maryland for work on the Quantico bridge project Kip, Maria, and their two daughters witnessed the historic moment when the first train crossed the newly constructed two-track bridge. Now, 17 years later, Kip looks forward to seeing the addition of the third track added to the Quantico bridge, symbolizing progress and resilience.
In sharing the history behind Tour de VRE and the enduring love between Kip and Maria Foster, we honor not just the memory of a remarkable woman but also the resilience of the human spirit. Their story reminds us of the importance of community and shared purpose, weaving a tapestry of inspiration that lingers long after the event has concluded.