After 11 days biking, Frank Fumich ends his charity ride from California in Clarksburg

Fumich was competing in the Race Across America, which stretches from California to Maryland. Due to severe physical exhaustion and even abrasions, Fumich decided to end his adventure 400 miles from the finish line.

“I had mixed emotions yesterday when I realized I wasn’t going to finish,” Fumich said. “It’s pretty fitting for me to end in Clarksburg.”

Fumich’s mother was born in Clarksburg, but his family moved to Virginia. His grandmother, Genevieve Musci, and great aunt, Arlene Bashnett, still live in Clarksburg, and were holding signs when Fumich biked into town.

“He’s a good boy,” Musci said of her grandson.

“It’s wonderful, I think. I never expected all this,” Musci added.

Despite all the excitement and cheers, one man stood with reserved happiness and abundant gratefulness for Fumich’s accomplishments: Ken Diviney. That’s because Diviney’s son, Ryan, is the reason Fumich was in the race.

In November of 2009, outside a convenience store near West Virginia University, Ryan Diviney was attacked, beaten mercilessly and left to die. He is now in a vegetative state, requiring daily care just to stay alive.

“This is the first time I’ve left him for more than a day,” Diviney said.

Diviney quit his job six years ago to provide full-time care for his son. It takes $2.2 million to keep Ryan alive each year, and after insurance, the family must provide $1 million on its own.

“Money is a constant worry. It solves a lot of problems,” Diviney said. “It’s not just ‘Where are we going to be in a month?’ It’s ‘Where are we going to be in five years?’ Then, people like Frank come along and bail out the water.”

Fumich had raised over $85,000 by Saturday night, all of which will go directly into a trust fund to provide care for Ryan Diviney. He said the day-to-day struggles of the Diviney family were in his mind the entire ride.

“I kept thinking how Ryan’s dad would trade places with me any second,” Fumich said. “Ryan was the only thing that kept me going.”

Over 100 Clarksburg residents were on hand to welcome Fumich and cheer for his accomplishments. Harrison County Commission President Ron Watson read a proclamation naming Saturday “Frank Fumich Day.”

“He’s basically a hometown boy,” Watson said. “To complete such a feat of coming from the West Coast to West Virginia is monumental and should be applauded. The cause is good, and hopefully the fundraising continues.”

As Fumich gave out hugs and handshakes, someone from the crowd shouted: “Thank you, Frank, for inspiring us to be better people.”

Schenley Green drove from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to cheer Fumich on in Clarksburg. She said few people understand as much as Fumich does that the greatest joy comes from doing something for someone who could never repay you.

“He’s a mentor to me without even knowing it,” Green said. “There are people doing this race all the time, but is there anything behind what they’re doing other than just the awards they can hang on their walls?”

Others in the crowd cheering for Fumich didn’t drive as far as Green. Lake Floyd resident Debbie Oliverio and her family brought signs and lawn chairs so they wouldn’t miss Fumich when he rode into town.

“We’ve been following the race really close,” Oliverio said. “I wanted to instill in my grandchildren the sense of not giving up and giving to other people. It’s just inspiring.”