Mark Bosworth disappearance at heart of this year's Cycle Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. - The 25th annual Cycle Oregon ride is under way and those who loved a man who disappeared during last year's event are working to keep his memory alive.
Mark Bosworth, a longtime volunteer with Cycle Oregon, was last seen Sept. 16, 2011. The 54-year-old was spotted on Main Street in Riddle. He was returning to his tent but that was the last anyone saw of him.
Bosworth, who was suffering from cancer, had behaved oddly in the days before his disappearance. His family and doctors suspected that the cancer might have caused him to either forget who he was or be confused about time and place.
Despite numerous searches, Bosworth has never been found.
For this year's Cycle Oregon, organizers will have buttons with Bosworth's photo on them for volunteers and riders to wear during the ride. Several of Bosworth's family members also plan to join the ride at various times during the week.
His family is also starting the Mark Bosworth Fund to help pay a rider's entry into Cycle Oregon.
"The fee of $895 for the week-long ride prevents some people from participating," his wife, Julie Bosworth, said in a media release. "We know Mark would love the idea of waiving that fee for someone each year who has never been on the ride before, perhaps someone under 30 years of age. Mark loved mentoring young people and getting them on bikes."
The family hopes to raise an endowment of at least $25,000. Donations can be made at any US Bank branch or you can send a check to:
The Mark Bosworth Fund
2000 N.E. 42nd, Suite 166
Portland, OR 97213
Anyone with information that might help investigators is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff's Office tip line at (541) 957-2099. There is a $10,000 reward for information that leads to Bosworth's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the TOY RUN which goes on every year for sick children in our local hospitals has been halted because of Mayor Blowshisjob.  God forbid we cause a small ripple in traffic for ill children!! A ripple that only last a couple hours if that!!! Â
Oh, but it is okay to close access to the Morrison or Burnside bridge ALL DAY for bicycle rider's events..  Just plain dumb!   Thank you Mr. Mayor Sucksalot.
It's heartbreaking enough to lose someone to illness or accident but I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to literally lose someone, to have them disppear without a trace & not know what happened. Hopefully someone will come forward with some information that will provide closure to this suffering family.