Comox Valley driver shovels and bikes his way to more community spirit
Transit System: Comox Valley
11 January 2022
The same driver that spread joy and random acts of kindness last May in the Comox Valley is back with a double-dose of community spirit and motivational healthy living.
JD Ludlow, who is known to many in the area simply as The Flowerman, is a big believer in the power of positivity. He befriends everyone he meets and leaves people with a big smile, so it’s no surprise that his ‘Lei Day’ on May 5 last year was a huge hit with the community. But JD isn’t content to rest on this now annual event, and recently carried out two initiatives to spread kindness and community spirit in the valley.
During the week of January 3, The Flowerman gathered musicians, politicians and other volunteers on an out-of-service bus and toured around the Comox Valley to dig out driveways for those that couldn’t do it. This turned out to be a big hit, not only with the residents they helped but with other members of the community and media.
Another project JD Ludlow began working on in December has also now come to fruition, and it all started because of a personal health journey that bgean last summer.
“It was the middle of June last year that I bought my last cigarettes after 25 years and committed to riding my bike and living a more active lifestyle,” said JD Ludlow. “My first short bike rides gave way to longer ones, and I also started eating better and hitting the weights. I can’t believe the results I’ve experienced.”
JD cycled more than 2,300 kilometres on his 20 year old bike and lost 70 pounds in 14 weeks, or five pounds per week. He has experienced both a physical and mental transformation and feels great in every sense, and JD wanted to inspire others to lead a healthier active lifestyle.
“In May I was told by my doctor that I was pre-diabetic, but I completely turned that diagnosis around with diet and exercise. I shared my journey on social media and got a Facebook message from Marnie Evans, who donated her slightly used bike and new helmet so I could give them away.”
JD approached the Comox Valley Regional District, who generously included a 6-month bus pass for his giveaway. The healthy living prize pack also included a $125 gift certificate for the Comox Bike Company store ($100 of that donated by Marnie Evans with the rest from the store), the installation of an electric assist by the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society (if needed) and five, three-hour rides with JD to show the winner various cycling routes throughout the valley. After hearing about this giveaway, the President of the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition reached out to JD and offered to include an adult individual cycling course.
To enter the contest, people had to submit an email by December 31, sharing their desire to change and live a healthier life.
“There were so many inspiring stories from people, and it was really hard making that decision. But in the end, Laura’s story really resonated with me and I believe winning this can change her life.”
Laura Dahl moved to the Comox Valley from Manitoba in 2020, hoping a change of scenery would help. She had battled depression and anxiety for years, along with other challenges in her previous life. The move helped her state of mind, but Laura has continued to experience physical aches and pains, which have reduced her activity and led to some unwanted weight gain in the last year.
”I’m really thankful to JD for inspiring me to lead a healthier lifestyle and giving me this opportunity to get in better shape,” said Laura Dahl. “My body, mind and emotions are better since moving to the Comox Valley, but I need to work at keeping every part of me healthy and well so that I can continue living a great life for a long time.”
Laura and JD will begin her cycling odyssey (as he puts it) in the spring, when the roads are clear and the weather is a bit better. In the meantime JD Ludlow will continue to inspire people to live better and of course, take the bus!
You can learn more about his ongoing efforts to make the world a better place at his web site, www.theflowerman.ca.
