| A member of Team Oz 2001 submitted the following essay to this website. Thank you. We welcome articles from all members of the parish, wherever you are on your journey....-Editor |
 As I have gone to the "Team Oz" meetings and done training rides preparing
for the AIDS Ride others ask me, "Why do I ride?" I am mindful that my
reasons are no better than others. Each of us has our own heartfelt
reasons. Yet, I have been urged to share.
I have four reasons to ride. First, for over 30 years I have been doing mental health counseling in different capacities. I have worked for the Court, a community counseling agency, a medical agency and a school. Over the years I have listened to people with short terminal life. I have shared the beauty of death. Most life ending situations have not been from HIV/AIDS. I have friends that are HIV/AIDS positive. I have felt helpless and powerless and wanted to do more. Getting the pledges and riding is a way I can give more. Second, I am the proud father of two adult sons. Their mother and I have always been physically active and both boys have been blessed with strength. However, my second son, Aaron, was blessed with more skill and ability. At the age of 15 he was a rated cross-country skier and bicycle rider for Schwinn. In his spare time he was a cross-country runner. Before school he would ride 40-50 miles. After school he would do 50-100 more. He competed with the best of the "big boys”. In May 1991 he was in a race near Virginia, MN. It was a short 40-mile rode race. He was separated from the lead pack by a race support vehicle. He came around a corner; head tucked down and ran into the back of the parked support vehicle. He broke his neck at C-1 and C 5-6. He is quadriplegic and in a wheel chair.
I have always looked up to Aaron. I admired his strength and endurance. When I ride, I ride beside him. I fantasize about racing to the end with him. I get strength from him now. I asked him to do this ride with me. He can’t, as he'll be in Czechoslovakia. I ride with him. Third, I am from Iowa the proud home of the Registers Annual Great Bike Ride across Iowa, RAGBRI. I believe the ride to be the parent of the border-to-border rides. I have always wanted to do a RAGBRI. There was a man by the name of Clarence Pickard who at the age of 70 or 80 rode RAGBRI on a single speed coaster bike. My memory is that Clarence was killed one winter by a drunken driver. If Clarence can do it, I can do it. I ride to honor him. Fourth, I have always wanted to do a major ride. I go to Joan of Arc for the public positions on life issues.
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The rest of the story is very long. We have never told Aaron he is disabled
or handicapped. A year later, to the weekend, he was in his first race in a chair.
He is a World Class Athlete as an archer. He skydives, drives his own
vehicle and travels the world. If you meet him, please don't tell him he's
disabled!
