Nick's Story

Donation Recipient: Dream Team - RAGBRAI

Greg, Andy, Artie, AM, Ed, Sam,

Karla and I were quite shocked to receive your letter back in November with the gift to make a difference and encourage the mission of the HealthyHeart group. As you can tell, we struggled with how to make an impact to a group or person with the delay of this letter. We spoke with a local children's home in Oceanside but just did not feel like it would be a long term connection. We looked at various options within charities our church sponsors and did not feel that the organizations served through this avenue would fit what the intent of this donation was for. We don't feel as plugged in here in SD as we do back in Iowa. Hopefully it is just a time thing but the past month has been amazing the people we have been able to meet outside of work either with triathlon, church or our neighborhood. We talked several times on how we wanted to make a difference for someone or maybe several people. We agreed that we feel free extremely fortunate to have met people like yourself and to begin a lifestyle together upon marriage where we work on a healthy way of life.

Our fathers' birthdays are in April. For their birthdays, we chose to donate a bicycle to the Dream Team back in Iowa for each father. Using the seed money from HealthyHeart and a contribution from us, we pledged funds for these two bikes to make a difference in two young people's lives in our home state. In addition, we challenged our fathers to get out and ride at least one day with the Dream Team as they complete RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa). In each of our dad's birthday cards, we wrote a one page note explaining the gift which was made in their name and extended the challenge to get out and join the Dream Team for a day in July. In addition, we worked with the leaders of the Dream Team so they understand our story behind the gifts and hopefully this can lead to a long term relationship for all of us.

Both of our fathers encouraged us in biking growing up but never to the extent where we are today. I can still remember my dad pushing me on my bike up and down the street and the celebration when we took the training wheels off. Last year Karla and I returned to Iowa to complete the 7 day journey across the state of Iowa with the thousands of other cyclists. It was truly a great event and wish more people could experience the hospitality and friendliness of the small Iowa towns. We are already talking on how we can make it back in future years.

My dad is the typical middle aged father who fits the statistical model for weight gain. He has probably gained 30 pounds since he was pushing me on the banana seat special bike. As he has succeeded in his role with his company, he finds himself spending more time entertaining clients and on the road. With no will power when it comes to food, this weight gain has accelerated quickly in recent years. In addition, he injured his hip this past year skiing and my brothers and I have been encouraging him to start walking and/or biking to help strengthen and rehabilitate his joint. My mom on the other hand is a model for a healthy lifestyle eating well, running upwards of 12 miles a day, often swimming one hour over the lunch hour, and donating countless hours of volunteering to the local community. She has expressed frustration with my dad's lack of will power, especially as she tries to live and eat well. Hopefully through this challenge, my dad can set a goal to ride 50-70 miles with this group and in doing so can begin a regular exercise routine.

Karla's father is an avid cyclist and on our ride last year across Iowa, we joined up with him. He is already planning on riding at least one day of the event this year if not more. Karla's mom is currently battling breast cancer. Although the current prognosis appears extremely positive, we are hesitant to plan to far into the future until the doctors give her a clear bill of health. Just as with my dad, hopefully Karla's dad can use this challenge as a goal to stay in shape and join up with this group in July.

So I am sure you are curious to learn a little bit more about this mysterious Dream Team. It was started in 1996 by a group of cyclists in the Des Moines area. They chose their mission to be: "To assist youth in developing a healthy spirit, mind and body, and a productive approach to life's challenges through preparation for and participation in RAGBRAI." Students from the Des Moines area are selected each fall based upon a selection process that identifies those who could benefit from the experience. These students are paired with mentors and during the winter months partake in weekly spin classes to build an aerobic base. As the weather improves, they move their rides outside. Overnight trips are included as the week long RAGBRAI experience approaches. The students are paired with mentors. For those of you who know Jim Washburn, Jim's brother's John is a mentor. The mentors provide consistent support and the guidance necessary for the young people to gain the confidence and the riding skills needed to achieve their goal of completing RAGBRAI. Another exciting thing with the group is that they offer the students an opportunity to return and become junior mentors. At the end of the entire experience, the students are rewarded with bicycle and equipment used during the training and ride. It is truly a great program making and impact in the under privileged youth in Iowa. Overall, RAGBRAI is a huge event for small town Iowa with over 10,000 registered riders participating and several thousand more "banditing" the ride.

Thanks again for the opportunity to donate and we enjoyed the experience. When we return for the Hy-Vee triathlon in June, we may try to meet up with some of the members of the Dream Team. If not then, we definitely meet up in a future year when we are back to participate in RAGBRAI. In addition, we will keep you posted on the progress of our fathers and young people on the team.

NJB and KDB