Local cyclist finishes first at Tour du Rouge Gonzales Stop

Adam Butler, Ascension parish native, now living in Austin, Texas, participated for his second straight year in the fifth annual American Red Cross Tour du Rouge that began on May 5 in Houston and ended May 10 in New Orleans. Adam crossed the finish line first for the Thursday, May 9 leg of the ride at the Clarion Inn on Highway 30.

Family and friends were on hand to welcome him as he arrived in Gonzales on Thursday and later that night for dinner. Friday morning, his mother, Judy Ducote-Long, saw him off for the last leg of the trip to New Orleans where participants completed the 533 miles.

These cyclists each helped raise awareness and money (a total of $510,000) for the American Red Cross along the disaster areas of the Gulf Coast.

Adam wants to once again thank all his family and friends for their support in helping him raise funds to participate in the event. "I could not have done this without each and every one of you," Butler said.

Anxious to get to Gonzales on Thursday and not miss some of those waiting to see him, Adam skipped his last rest stop and pushed ahead. "When he crossed the finish line, I could see the exhaustion. But also, I could tell he was excited to finish 30 seconds faster than their estimated arrival. We were very proud of him," stated a family representative. "What a role model for future volunteers."