I am a high school industrial technology teacher and school-to-career coordinator from Pella, Iowa. I also teach driver education in the summer, but this year I am taking the summer off for a very important reason.

Don ready for action

I have been biking seriously for about 15 years and have done a number of RAGBRAI rides (the first and oldest of the state bike rides, this one in Iowa). I have always looked forward to the challenge of riding across the United States. My wife didn't like the idea of me doing that on my own, so when I saw the ad for the Big Ride in a biking magazine, I knew this was my chance to go . . . and help a worthy cause at the same time. I saw the advertisement one evening while my wife was attending a meeting. The next morning when I left early for school, I left the magazine open to that page on the kitchen counter. My wife says that when she found it, she knew I was going.

I also have several personal reasons for doing this ride for the American Lung Association. My wife, Shirley, suffers from asthma; my father-in-law, a lifelong farmer, suffered from emphysema; and I personally know several members of my church who have or who have died from various types of lung diseases. These are very personal reasons that have given me the desire to do the ride and also the hard work of raising the donations for the work that the Lung Association does.

	Inspire a Big Rider The Big Ride cyclists are pouring energy into a ride benefiting those unable to do it themselves. Let them know that you appreciate them.

Like many others, I knew the ride itself would be a challenge, yet very rewarding; but I was more concerned about the challenge of raising $7,000. I set a personal goal of raising $10,000 and felt that goal could be reached. With a lot of letter writing, personal contacts, and the financial support of a lot of great people I am pleased to be able to say I have been able to pass my personal goal. The process of reaching the required level was made much easier by members of my church, Peace Lutheran. They put on a fund-raising soup luncheon and, with matching funds from the Aid Association for Lutherans, raised half of the $7,000.

The fund-raising has not only been a challenge, but also a lot of fun and even a hair-raising, or should I say, a HAIR LOSING EXPERIENCE. I may be the only rider who will be riding bald. I made a challenge to the high school students that the president of the class that could raise the most money could shave my head. The senior class won, and I decided to keep the bald look. The bald head also has some advantages. It has helped with the packing problem; I don't have to pack shampoo or a comb. Also, being more aerodynamic, I feel I should have about a 2 mph advantage on the downhill!

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