Jo Dee Ahmann

Rob said to me this morning, “I am beyond myself.  This is beyond what I can do.  I cannot believe how great I feel.”  Rob woke up his crew after 2 ½ hours of sleep and said, “It’s time to ride.”  And off he went—community following.

He loves that God is answering his prayers.  He is constantly calling out to His God for help.  “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”  Isaiah 26:3

And he said his community is keeping him going.  Last night when the hour was late and the going was tough, his niece Madison (age 9) read all the messages to him.  She called him repeatedly with her laughter, encouragement, and words from all of you.  He said it brought him those last few miles into the hotel in Flagstaff.

Madisyn Heistand watches her uncle Rob pass by during a pit stop.

I now know one more reason why Christina was such an inspiration to Rob—Listen to her words,   “All of you…. all of you are an integral part of this journey, and I feel like I need to reiterate that. You are making this a unique, incredible, and faith-building experience for me but you are also on your own adventure. And for whatever reason I got really excited about your adventures today… I have no idea where you are at in life and what you are going through but I do know that God is passionately pursuing you… whether you feel it or not, whether you believe it or not, whether you feel surrounded by him or a million miles away. God wants your heart.”

 And today, I received this message from Sean Flanagan, Rob’s crew chief.

“I went into this over preparing, thinking I was under-prepared.  I thought data, analytics, documents and spreadsheets would be the source of getting us there, numbers that I geek out over!  But that is a past life, a corporate one, and an old perspective on how I approached and wanted to be prepared for work and/or life obstacles.  Probably a control thing, which most anxiety people deal with, and I am most definitely one of those people.  Yesterday, when our entire Team, the Media, Day and Night Crew all merged into and were focused on Rob when he needed us the most after his crash, that exemplified what community is.  No data or spreadsheet could predict or help Rob with that.  While the crash was out of our control, we were all very much in control of the situation and everyone just knew what to do.”

Madisyn Heistand and Sean Flanagan help Rob get to a chair to rest after racing through the desert.

This traveling community is keeping Rob on the road.  The media crew is keeping it publicized in order to raise money for brain cancer research—that is Rob’s goal in this difficult journey. Giving is a major way to encourage Rob.  We tell him of your financial support and read him your encouraging words.  Give here     You, his global community, are keeping him on the road with your encouraging words, prayer, giving, and “following at a distance support.”  In fact, we run alongside on uphill stretches and read your words to him.  He smiles, thumbs up, and continues the journey.

Kristin DeCou runs alongside her husband Rob as he chugs some iced coffee.

Ride on Rob.  Through the mountains, deserts, and lonely roads.  We love you more than you know.

The Messenger,

Jo Dee Ahmann

The first 24 hours of this race have passed.   It is day 2 and Rob rode through the night.  He had put in some fast miles.  We woke up and got on the road to try to find Rob (with the help of Race tracking info).  We finally found him around 12:15 just after he had veered off the road and crashed.  In his words, “I shouldn’t have looked back to see the truck.  I’m just tired and didn’t think clearly.”

Kim Godawa patches up Rob after he had a fall in the Sonoran desert.

He had a good bit of road rash on his left thigh which his nurse attended to.  I may not have mentioned that I am Rob’s life coach.  He told me he was fine, just a little rattled from the accident.  I prayed with him and then he whispered, “I really am good.”

“I feel really good,” whispers Rob DeCou after praying with Jo Dee Ahmann while recovering from a fall.

When we were all back on the road, he asked me to call him.  He laughed a bit, told me his plan, and told me that he wanted some of his longtime friends and mentors to call him.  He said, “I need my community.  It does not go well when I am not in touch.”  The friends and mentors include some high school teachers and coaches and a woman who has had some severe medical issues including transplants and a few kinds of cancer.  Her name is Jan Stanton and she, like Christina, inspires Rob with her joyful, upbeat approach to life.  One of Christina’s favorite Bible verses describes Jan perfectly, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”  Proverbs 31:25  Rob loves to surround himself with people who laugh at the days to come—courageous, joyful, strong—no matter what the circumstances.

Rob pedals on through the Sonoran desert in 100 degree heat.

His plan is to cycle until 11:00 P.M. tonight and then take a 3 hour rest.  For those of you doing the math that is 33 ½ hours of continuous cycling.  It is something I can’t fathom.  I am just riding through the desert in a car and dealing with dehydration and a headache.  How can a human being push the limits of endurance this way?

Signing off,

The Messenger, Jo Dee Ahmann

Rob is racing to raise money for brain cancer research.  His goal is $20,000.  Would you please consider giving here

You can leave him a note of encouragement. We are reading notes to him as he rides.

Rob is on the road!

Here are some highlights.

Rob arrived at the start at about 11:15 and gathered his team.

He asked his close friend from Rotary, Joe Chehade, to lead us in prayer.  Here it is:

“Lord, before Rob starts the race, we wanted to pause for a moment, and first of all thank you for the journey that led to this moment, the planning, the training and the support of everyone present and not present.  We thank you for the life of Christina Nevill, as we honor her legacy of faith, courage and joy.

We ask you to remove all anxiety and replace it with your hope, strength and peace.  We know You and your angels will accompany Rob and the crew along the way.  We ask You to keep them safe, in good health and in high spirit, Your Spirit.

If challenges surface, we will repeat with David: My help comes from the Lord…He will not let your foot slip.  He watches over you.  He will not sleep.

We have faith that what is impossible for man, is possible for God.  We can’t wait to witness all the miracles you will do along the way from here to Annapolis.  Amen”

With that, Rob told us of the challenge his ultra endurance support team is undertaking. They have thrown down the challenge of doing one burpee for every mile Rob pedals.  That is 3069 burpees in 12 days.  We watched their first 10 burpees at the start line.   A very fun challenge indeed!!  I think Tyler Clemens is the crew member who came up with the idea.

Rob also instructed his team to come up with positive nicknames for the whole crew.  There are a few–Chris “Tarzan” Clemens.  Mine is Messenger.  Rob’s unborn baby is “Little Buddy”.

Some have asked why Rob rides a recumbent bike.  The major reason is comfort.  Think—no saddle sores, no numb arms and wrists, no severe neck problems.  On a 3000 mile bike race, those things are crucial.  Rob is a big guy and all of those issues would be exacerbated.  The recumbent bike can be the very thing that helps him across the finish line.

Rob’s goal is to cross the finish line within the time limit.  That is 12 days.  His motto is “Slow and steady.  Steady is fast.”

In light of slow and steady, we caught up to Rob after a huge, steep descent into the desert.  He looked over at us and asked how we were doing.  After our “fine, great, and you?”  He said, “That was a great descent, better than the climb.  I hit 54 mph.  It’s the fastest I’ve ever gone…but then I slowed down…for my mother.”

Go Rob!!!

Jo Dee Ahmann, The Messenger

The beginning of RAAM 2016 is two days away.  The riders and their teams have gathered in Oceanside, California for pre-race inspections, meetings, and last minute details.

I am here at the invitation of Maria Parker and 3000 Miles to a Cure.  My name is Jo Dee Ahmann.  My daughter, Christina Ahmann Nevill, died of brain cancer 3 years ago.  Her high school friend, Rob DeCou, is racing in honor of her and raising money for brain cancer research.

I will be writing about Rob’s race, about Christina’s legacy and about hope.

Rob is ready to ride.  He is surrounded by a crew of faithful friends and family.  He is most definitely a warrior.  A gentle warrior.  His calm demeanor, his compassionate spirit, and his love of community almost hide his fierce tenacity, his endurance, his strength, and his commitment.

Nobody signs up to get brain cancer.  Nobody stands in line and says, “I want to suffer through the unthinkable.”  And yet, suddenly people like my beautiful daughter, Christina, find themselves battling through fear, pain, despair, and hopelessness.  It is a battle.  It is about being a warrior.  It is about finding strength, courage, hope, and joy in the midst of dire circumstances.

Christina would love what Rob is doing.  He is aligning himself with those who may have lost hope.  He is willfully entering into suffering to walk a bit of the journey with those who had no choice.

What Rob and Christina share in common is their huge faith in their Lord Jesus.  They both know they can do impossible things in His name and with His power.

Just before Christina left this world she wrote this,

“I have fought this disease, this, pain, this potential hopelessness, every second of the way, but not without His grace. It has been through many ups and downs, tears, laughter, adventures, heartbreaks, but even overflowing happiness. He has not given me a spirit of defeat. I will be thankful and soaking up every day He chooses to give me, and I will also look forward to that beautiful day I get to walk into my Savior’s arms and be finally swallowed up by LIFE. The life we are designed for! 2 Cor. 5:4-7”

Friends and family pray over Rob DeCou to ask for strength, safety and perseverance before the Race Across America starts Tuesday.

In two days Rob will hit the road.  He is joining in a fight against brain cancer, in a fight against hopelessness.  He knows the truth of doing all things through Christ who strengthens him.

Join us as we make our way across this country.  Follow the journey.  Give at 3000milestoacure.com.  Let those who have brain cancer know that you care.  Let their families know that you stand with them.  If you pray, please pray for Rob and his team and all those he honors as he rides.

Thanks for checking in,

Jo Dee