Received a phone call about Wick over the weekend and the following has been posted on Trials Comp website -- we should all do what we can for him, he and Marilyn are GREAT friends of trials...

Trials Comp has just learned that long-time US Trial de Nations team supporter and Trials Comp contributor/photographer N.E. “Wick” Wicker is suffering from an advanced stage of lung cancer and is currently resting in Masters Nursing Home in Allgood, Tennessee. Wick and his wife, Marilyn, were strong supporters of the US Trial de Nations effort, spending their own money to produce T-shirts, decals and memorabilia to sell at national events to raise money to send a team to Europe every year. Had it not been for the Wickers, there might not have been a US TdN team. Marilyn and Wick managed the US teams, beginning with the first TdN event in 1984, until their retirement in 1996.
Wick and Marilyn are dear friends and we are urging people to send cards and letters to help raise Wick’s spirits and to let him know how much the trials community appreciates what he and Marilyn have done for the sport.
Send to:
N.E. “Wick” Wicker
Rt 14 Box 85-B, Whitehall
Cookeville, TN 38501

Curt:

I logged on the STRA site tonight and was horrified to read the sad news about Wick. I wish that the current group of STRA and National competitors could really understand what Wick and Marilyn mean to so many of us who were able to call them friends throughout the 70's and 80' and 90's. The list of people who they helped out through this time is staggering! I was personally on the receiving end of their hospitality and friendship many times in my riding career over the years. Not the least of which was always being close by when I lived in Cookeville myself.

They both put in countless hours of their own time and money to support trials and especially the TDN in the USA. To us young guys at the time, both Wick and Marilyn were like having an extra set of parents or grandparents there to support you, especially when things didn't go as planned! I remember one particular time in 1984 when they were still living in Denver. I had been competing in some Canadian Nationals in Ontario on July1st. I had planned on riding a US National in CO on July4th. I had planned on doing the drive entirely by myself. I ran into money problems after my van broke down and as well as I was usually running on a shoe-string budget.I did make it to CO in time, but flat broke and having not slept in 3days, the Wicker's reached out an took me in. This was my first real experience in meeting them. They also helped me out financially until I could get some money wired from home. Just a thought to let you know what kind of people they are!!

My thoughts and prayers are with Wick and Marilyn and I hope for the best for him!

Steve Fracy

All: I took the signed T-shirt to Wick, Last week (from the TTC training weekend). He was extremely pleased to receive it. He has lost about 50 lbs. very weak, but perked up when he saw us. The good news is that he does not have lung cancer, he had pneumonia and they had a hard time with their diagnosis. The bad news is that I just got off the phone with Marlyn and she said that he was back in the hospital with pneumonia again, not good with him being as weak as he is. Marlyn said that all the cards were really appreciated and Wick enjoyed them tremendously. If you have not sent him a card yet please do so. It will lift his spirits tremendously. They thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. Jim & Barbara Watson.