Holy City Treks
Donation protected
Hey everyone so this is a project that myself, along with a few other students and a professor are very excited to be working on! Denise Fugo was my Finance professor last semester and I told her about Chris' passing after missing her class. Hearing his story inspired her to write a grant application to CofC to try to start making a positive change in the Charleston community through safer streets. We are very excited to announce that we have started a nonprofit organization called "Holy City Treks". Our goal is to transform the streets of Charleston into a place that is comfortable, convenient and connected. We are embracing all modes of transportation ("Biking Boarding Blading and Busing") for economic and environmental stability here in this beautiful city. In its current state, Charleston is an incredibly dangerous place to walk or ride your bike, skateboard, etc. We want SAFE STREETS because it's not fair to be putting the safety of Charleston residents, students, and visitors on the back burner anymore. After Chris, this is a problem that I can't ignore anymore. I invite everyone to help lead the initiative to take back the streets of Charleston! Holy City Treks has big things planned and we need your help to get started! We're starting by gathering stories of all sorts of people that have been affected by the unsafe streets of Charleston and it's only fitting that Chris' story be the first that we share, since he was the inspiration behind this organization. We'll be continuing to share stories through Facebook and Instagram as we try to raise awareness about this problem. Please post any thoughts or stories about biking, walking, driving in Charleston that you have to our Facebook page! Again, we couldn't be more excited to get rolling with this and stay tuned for updates!
Chris Bates’ Story
Holy City Treks was born in the Fall of 2015 shortly after a tragedy that has become all too familiar here in Charleston. Christopher Bates was a 21 year old Senior Exercise Science major at the College of Charleston. He worked hard in school with the hopes of studying alternative medicine at a chiropractic school in Atlanta after graduation. Chris left a positive impact on everyone he came across due to his infectiously happy personality and his great outlook on life. Chris was there for everybody, whether that was his best friend or a complete stranger. In a world filled with people trying to bring you down, he was always bringing people up. Chris lived life true to his beliefs, as evident by his dedication to a strict vegan diet and an overall healthy lifestyle. Naturally, he used his bike as his main mode of transportation around Charleston. Chris Bates was struck and killed by a car while riding his bike home on Meeting Street on October 22nd, 2015. The aftermath of Chris’ passing sent shockwaves through Charleston all the way back to his hometown of Columbia. He was the finest person I’ve ever had the pleasure to call my friend and I speak for everyone when I say the lack of his amazing spirit and attitude has left a void in our lives. However, life always works in funny ways. After discussing Chris and his story with a professor at the College of Charleston, Denise Fugo, we knew there needed to be change and Holy City Treks was born just two months later. It’s amazing to think that the impact of Chris’ life will be able to stretch far beyond his time on earth. Chris was the inspiration to so many of us, so it’s only fitting that he be the inspiration behind an organization focused on taking care of others through safer streets.
Holy City Treks' Facebook Page
Chris Bates’ Story
Holy City Treks was born in the Fall of 2015 shortly after a tragedy that has become all too familiar here in Charleston. Christopher Bates was a 21 year old Senior Exercise Science major at the College of Charleston. He worked hard in school with the hopes of studying alternative medicine at a chiropractic school in Atlanta after graduation. Chris left a positive impact on everyone he came across due to his infectiously happy personality and his great outlook on life. Chris was there for everybody, whether that was his best friend or a complete stranger. In a world filled with people trying to bring you down, he was always bringing people up. Chris lived life true to his beliefs, as evident by his dedication to a strict vegan diet and an overall healthy lifestyle. Naturally, he used his bike as his main mode of transportation around Charleston. Chris Bates was struck and killed by a car while riding his bike home on Meeting Street on October 22nd, 2015. The aftermath of Chris’ passing sent shockwaves through Charleston all the way back to his hometown of Columbia. He was the finest person I’ve ever had the pleasure to call my friend and I speak for everyone when I say the lack of his amazing spirit and attitude has left a void in our lives. However, life always works in funny ways. After discussing Chris and his story with a professor at the College of Charleston, Denise Fugo, we knew there needed to be change and Holy City Treks was born just two months later. It’s amazing to think that the impact of Chris’ life will be able to stretch far beyond his time on earth. Chris was the inspiration to so many of us, so it’s only fitting that he be the inspiration behind an organization focused on taking care of others through safer streets.
Holy City Treks' Facebook Page
Organizer
Denise Marie Fugo
Organizer
Charleston, SC