458 Days (Archived from Texas 4000 Website)

When I first heard about the Texas 4000, I thought to myself that there was no way I could ever do that and those people were nuts. I mean, a sane person would not ride their bike from Austin to Anchorage for selfless reasons, and if the reasoning was selfish than they must be crazy.

James Everett Newman is an amazing and wonderful person, and I ride for his dad, David. James and I have been dating for 1,901 days. I cannot imagine what the last five years would have been like without him egging me on, because my life would be completely different. James convinced me to do well in high school, apply three times to the University of Texas, get a job at the Cactus Cafe, and apply for T4K. David was a wonderful caring and talented man. It's easy to look at James and see the love with which he was raised. David was diagnosed with kidney cancer in the summer of 2010.

James and I were lucky enough to be invited by a 2011 rider, who dedicated some of his ride to David, to attend the Tribute this past fall. I cried the whole time. I thought about the pain suffered by the too-many people struggling with cancer, and their families. I hinted to James that I was considering applying to be on the 2013 team and he encouraged me with everything he had. It was around this time when I realized that sometimes I just needed to cry. I cried every time I rewrote my application, and every time James edited it for me. I cried when I found out that I got an interview, and I cried when I got my acceptance call. I cried in front of 90+ people when I talked about Why I Ride. I cry when I hear other Why I Rides, because I can't help but relate.

I cried when I heard about Ruel, who I was not able to meet. I don't believe that anybody's pain is the same. When I sat in the large group meeting this past Monday and cried for Ruel while listening to stories from his teammates it was because I remember being with James, Gail, David, and countless visitors after David went into hospice.

I've cried a lot in the last 296 days, and I'm sure that I'll cry a whole lot more. Call me crazy, but in 458 days I am hopping on my bike and riding from Austin to Anchorage to spread Hope, Knowledge, and Charity along the way.