Abby Rike
Age: 35
Height: 5’4″
Hometown: Mabank, TX
Occupation: Teacher
NBC Bio
Abby is loyal to a fault, hardworking, a vivacious lover of life who avoids conflict and likes everyone to get along. She faced an enormous tragedy in October 2006. In light of losing her beloved husband, 5½ year-old daughter and 2½ week-old son in a fatal car crash, she chooses to forge ahead. She has been searching for a way to finally get back to a “normal” life and feels this will happen when she loses the weight.
Abby has been on various diets since the sixth grade when her mother, who has also always been overweight, recommended that she lose a few pounds. Her weight has gone up and down for years and since the accident she has gained even more rapidly, using food as her way of coping with her losses.
She is high school teacher and is a favorite amongst the students, often being requested by students that are not even required to take her classes. She enjoys inspiring students to achieve their personal bests, but often feels like a hypocrite since she is not doing the same. Abby recently went back to school and graduated with a Master’s of Education degree maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. Abby desperately wants to live a healthy lifestyle enabling her to make the most of the next step in her new “normal” life.
Hello my name is J.R. Williams. I wrote a message to NBC to try and get a hold of you, I don’t know if it worked but I found this site through Facebook I hope this finds it’s way to you. I’ve followed your story through the Biggest Loser and my heart just pours out to you. The tragedy that you were faced with, that no one can imagine unless under similar distress. The thing that I admire though is your will to fight and persevere. I had a brain injury a little over 2 years ago, I fell from an airplane 20 ft. and landed on the pavement. I’m still out of work waiting for my doctor to release me. I’ve been trying to get my life back and I want to go back to college, but sometimes I think what’s the point. That things would’ve been easier if I would have just died that day. No need to drag my family along in my recovery, or no need for this suffering. But then I see your story I see you. After watching you, and listening to some of the things you say or watching your effort just makes me take a step back and reevaluate my life. The fact that I still have a life, I just need to be lucky that I am here. They say that everything happens for a reason, something that I always thought was a cliche’ until now. You were meant to give hope and inspiration to the millions that watch you. You have inspired me, and I’m not overweight it’s not just about that. It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose this “show” because you are going to succeed at life and your goals. Besides you have 3 angels watching over you. Guiding you through the rest of your and your family’s journey.
Abby, your my Angel..
J.R. Williams