It’s almost here!

Every year, Rides on the River is about more than cars—it’s about family. This year, we’re honored to welcome a new family to ours. 

Denver Lowery, a two year old from Bastrop Louisiana  is our  2026 Rides on the River benefactor.
Denver is the youngest son of Zach and Franny, and the little brother of Taylor and Sutton. Zach and Franny met years ago while working together, and over time built a life centered around family, hard work, and faith. Like most families, their days were full of work, kids, school, schedules, and the normal chaos of raising a young family.
In the months leading up to Denver’s diagnosis,  Franny says that there were subtle signs, but nothing that clearly pointed to what was coming. Then one day in July after a scary episode happened at home, Denver was taken to the emergency room. What started as a suspected fainting spell quickly turned into an abnormal EKG and labs, an ambulance ride to Shreveport, and a blood transfusion in the early hours of that next morning. Two days later, on Franny’s birthday, Denver’s now oncologist came into the room and said the words no parent ever expects to hear: “I’m so sorry to tell you this, but your son has leukemia.”
From that moment on, life changed. Days became filled with hospital visits, medications, lab work, and learning how to live in a world where nothing is taken for granted.
Today, Denver is in active treatment. He has weekly appointments at the St. Jude affiliate in Shreveport and will spend a month in Memphis later this year for his Second round of immunotherapy. Despite everything he has been through, Denver is still very much himself - sweet, playful, full of personality, and surprisingly strong for such a little guy.
Franny says “This journey has been a roller coaster of emotions: fear, exhaustion, heartbreak, and uncertainty. But it’s also full of deep gratitude, faith, and love. We have been carried through this season by the support of our families, friends, and community. Every prayer, message, present, card, and act of kindness has meant more to our family than we could ever express.”
Zach and Franny continue to trust God through each step, even when the path ahead isn’t clear.
From Franny  “For Denver to be chosen as the 2026 Rides on the River benefactor is something we will never forget and means so much to our little family.”

We are grateful and humbled to rally around Denver and his family this year. Please keep them in your prayers, share their story, and help us show them they’re not walking this road alone.

 This year, we Ride for Denver