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The night crew called this morning and asked if I would talk Rob through a few more miles before a rest break.  What do you say to someone who is pouring out everything he has mentally, physically, and spiritually? It seems inane to ask, “How is your day going?”  Or “How’s the weather?”  Or “Does anything hurt?”  Well, duh.

Rob has had some pain in his feet. The heat and constant riding has produced some rashes, blisters and cramps.

It all seems so small. Insignificant. My life has nothing in it that I can compare in effort, tenacity, perserverance or difficulty.  This I know, the next time something enters my life that feels overwhelming—I will remember the relentless effort that Rob is making second by second, pedal by pedal, mile by mile.

Rob smiles while racing down a highway in Kansas.

How much more do we have in us?  Never tapped, never used, never known.

He woke up this morning after his hour of sleep and for the first time, his brain was foggy.  It lasted 10 minutes and he DID NOT like it.  He values being present in the moment.  He wants to be aware of those around him.  To his core, he loves his people.  We caught up with Rob around noon.  He whispered, “My brain is clear.”  Big smile. Rob’s smile brings smiles.  We just ran into some family from another racer and they said, “Oh, the guy on the recumbent—he always smiles and waves.”

Madisyn Heistand, Kristin DeCou, and Jo Dee Ahmann support Rob during a pit stop in Missouri.

His voice is reduced to a quiet whisper. His throat is swollen and very sore.  In typical Rob fashion he whispered, “So much for giving orders.”  He actually managed with sign language to let his needs be known.  Foremost was keeping to the 10 minute limit for a stop.  He made a watch signal several times to keep everyone moving and aware of the time.

Again I wonder, how does a person who has cycled almost 2000 miles in 8 days with an hour or two of sleep a night, even know what a schedule is?

This morning he said, “the sleep deprivation of the first two days was really difficult.  Now it is just what I do.  Every day.”

Madisyn Heistand, Rob’s neice, massages his hand to relieve cramps during a pit stop in Missouri.

Continually, I see the parallels of the quest for a cure for brain cancer and the quest for a finish of Race Across America.  Both seem impossible.  Both need perseverance.  Both need community.  It takes a lot of work to get Rob down the road and it will take a lot of work to find the cure to brain cancer.   Rob has raised 47% of his goal.  Please give here.

Amazement—

May I just share with you what is blowing up my pre-conceived ideas about how this race would go?

Rob is awake and working forward at least 21-22 hours a day.  His sleeps are short and powerful.  His breaks are minimal and timed.

The business of a Kansas highway rushes past Rob.

He is still waking himself up after each rest.  I told him it will be quite the day when his crew actually has to wake him up.  He said, “Yeah, it will be the day after the race.

Rob DeCou, surrounded by Jo Dee Ahmann and Madisyn Heinstand, feels 100% after a quick break. He’ll be spending all day in record-high temperatures while racing through Kansas.

He is alert, aware, concerned about all those around him.  This is Day 7 of the race and I really thought by Day 4 he wouldn’t be coherent.  His great desire is to stay in his right mind until the finish line.  I pray God gives him the clarity he so strongly desires.  I have seen that miracle before—with Christina.  I know it is possible.

He is still giving direction to his two crews—trying to make sure everything is going smoothly.  Jamaica, his mechanic, said the reason Rob is able to do that is because the crews are doing such a great job.

He has been pedaling through a heat wave in Kansas—upper 90’s and humidity.  He LOVES that he can fill his jersey and cycling shorts with ice.  A great help and relief.  The beauty of the recumbent bike.

Rob smiles while racing down a highway in Kansas.

The increased giving to 3000 Miles to a Cure is so appreciated.  For this, Rob is flying down the backroads of the United States.  I believe Rob will meet his goal of $20,000.  Will you join this community of giving?  Please give here.

All that and more.  So beautiful…

It is the privilege of a lifetime to watch this race mile by mile, pedal by pedal, prayer by prayer, joy upon joy.  All in a setting of perseverance, agony, intensity, timed stops, 45 minute rests, aching muscles, sore feet, blisters, sunburn, and so much more.  I will forever be changed.  I will never have to look far for inspiration to continue in difficulty, smile at adversity, and experience joy in the most difficult of situations.  Rob asked me this morning, “What are you learning about yourself?”  (May I say I DO NOT understand how he is able to be concerned about anyone but himself.)

Rob awakes in the coldest environment he’s faced yet at 38 degrees. His crew gets him fed and warmed up before taking the trip to Wolf Creek Pass.

I told him I am more convinced than ever, on a deep, deep level that the joy, peace, and abundance that God provides has NOTHING to do with circumstances.  I am watching, taking it all in and saying Rob is experiencing far beyond what he could ask or imagine and it has increased my capacity to believe.

Rob moved eastern Colorado into Kansas (173 miles) with some beautiful tail winds and great energy. His crew chief, Sean Flanagan reported early in the day, “It is amazing to watch.  God has answered Rob’s prayers.”  Rob reported in the midst of his good ride that he needed a chiropractor.  Sharon Powell from 3000 miles of prayer, found  Dr. Phillips of Phillips Chiropractic in Dodge City who was willing to meet us on route with a portable table.

Rob had a pain in his back and found a chiropractor to fix it during his ride through Kansas.

He generously donated his services and worked on the rest of Rob’s crew also.  We outfitted his whole family with our special t-shirts.  His kids were super excited.  It was fun to learn that Dr. Phillips is a team chiropractor for a local football team.  He knew just what to do with Rob’s athletic, football player stature.

Rob had some physical deterioration 30 miles before he reached the chiropractor but looking forward to treatment and a nap in the air-conditioned van kept him going.  He went down for a nap immediately after Dr. Phillips worked on him and if Rob keeps to the pattern of the past five days, he will be up in an hour or so and heading down the road with renewed energy.

Rob’s wife Kristin DeCou applies chapstick to Rob’s burnt lips after a long ride through campus.

I am so amazed at how this huge community has come together to get Rob through this race.  He has a very committed, talented, skilled, and compassionate team.  He has all of you watching, hoping, praying, and cheering him on.  He has people who will make calls and find chiropractors.  This is not a one-man show.  Rob absolutely trusts his team to care for him when he can’t walk and to think for him when he can’t reason.  He asks for prayer often and trusts that God will answer.

Rob’s crew checks up on him before he gets looked at by a chiropractor in Kansas.

This is a great picture of the 3000 Miles to a Cure purpose.  It will take a huge community to raise enough money to find a cure for brain cancer.  Rob is giving us a physical picture of the challenges ahead for brain cancer treatment.  It is a hard road.  It will take many of us to help by taking action and doing our part.  Rob said, “I am just a small building block of something much bigger.”  He is certainly doing his part—struggling, pushing himself, persevering in order to call attention to brain cancer research.  Now we can do our part.

3000 Miles to a Cure is a nonprofit organization founded to end brain cancer by raising funds for research. They have partnered with Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), funding cutting edge work in the difficult world of brain tumors. Every penny you give goes to research through ABC2.

Maria Parker founded 3000 Miles to a Cure when her sister, Jenny, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012.  Maria’s goal is to raise money to find a cure for brain cancer.  She continues to be devastated by the loss of her sister, Jenny, and wants to put an end to the suffering that this disease causes families.  She would love to see brain cancer cured in her lifetime. Brain cancer research has been underfunded and our hope is to provide some very needed funding using the platform of this race that demands everything.

In 2013, when Maria raced across America, she raised $70,000.

In 2014, when Jacquie Schlitter raced for 3000 Miles to a Cure, she raised $15,000.

In 2015, when Rob White raced, he raised $30,000.

This year, Marshall and Rob hope to raise $40,000 together.

We are now at the half way point of the race.  So far, we have raised $9,331.  That is 23% of our goal.

Will you please help by donating here.

This is the fifth day Rob has been on the road.  Over and over again I think, “This reminds me of Christina’s journey through brain cancer.”

Of course, no one asks for brain cancer.  And yet, Rob is entering into suffering willingly to stand with those who had no choice in their suffering.

I watch.  I wonder.  I am overwhelmed.

Rob has asked for his community to help him, support him, surround him in good times and hard times.  When Rob got off his bike last night, he had to be helped to bed, and the community surrounded.  Nurse Kim, massage therapist Darla, faithful friends, listening, loving, and laughing.  I sat there thinking how often we sat around Christina’s bed when she was spent—too much pain after surgery, or too weak to move.  Her community surrounded her in exactly the same way.  It brought hope, joy, help and the way through.

Madisyn Heinstand, Jo Dee Ahmann, and Darla Workman massage Rob before he tries to get a couple hours of sleep.

The fight to go on—even when you don’t feel like it.  That is Rob.  That was Christina.  She worked hard to have a normal life in spite of all that was happening to her.  She started a non-profit, she married, she had a baby.  It would have been easy for her to quit and just watch TV and eat ice cream.  But she persevered through every breath.  And that is what Rob is doing.  After the intensive treatment in the hotel last night, he got back on the bike in 1 ½ hours and headed down the road—at 10:30 P.M.

Rob awakes in the coldest environment he’s faced yet at 38 degrees. His crew gets him fed and warmed up before taking the trip to Wolf Creek Pass.

Christina prayed and worked to keep her mind engaged until her dying day.  She was not a fan of dying of brain cancer.  She prayed and prayed for her mind to stay focused.  At one point she said, “Tell everyone I am working really hard, it may not look like it but I am.”  It looked like she was laying in bed unable to see but her sweet little tumor infested brain was working overtime to stay alert.  On the last day of her earthly life, she tried to sing along with me as I sang one of her childhood songs.  Yesterday, I told Rob that he needed to work that hard to focus—even when his brain feels foggy, his eyes want to close, and he feels discouraged.  And, oh my, he is working!

“I feel good, really good. I pray I get rest because I want to keep riding,” said Rob before he tries to get some shut-eye.

Rob asks over and over for prayer.  He knows that God is sustaining and carrying him.  He felt physically pushed up the hill last night.  Christina also leaned hard into the arms of her Savior and He met her in unusually powerful ways.  This is the part of life that cannot be predicted, the hand of God intervening for those who call on His name.  Hope in the hard.

Christina did not choose brain cancer but she chose to live, love, give selflessly to those around her, and let joy and peace be the main expression of her life.

Rob chose this RAAM suffering but he is choosing to live, love, give selflessly to those around, and let joy and peace be the main expression of his life.  Today he rode by and said, “Hi Luke.  Good job, Jo Dee.”  Wait.  We are trying to encourage Rob and he is encouraging us.

Rob’s niece, Madisyn, is reading all the encouragements from the donation page.  Rob said it helps him power on.  This also, was like Christina.  When her eyes weren’t working well and she was experiencing pain or weakness or despair she would ask for “storytime”.  We would read encouraging notes sent to her.  It was relief for her aching heart.

As you give here and encourage, know that you are bringing strength to Rob and hope and encouragement for all whose lives are touched by brain cancer.

Thank you for following, loving, giving and encouraging.

The Messenger,

Jo Dee Ahmann

I am sitting in the village of Mexican Hat, Utah after chasing Rob down this morning.  We were at Monument Valley (so stunning) filming the sunrise when we heard that Rob was on the bike and moving toward us.  Already???  After 1 ¾ hours of sleep?

A bird flies over Monument Valley hours before Rob DeCou comes through.

It was true.  We raced toward him to have a few words at a pullout.  Rob, always aware of the crew around him said,  “Thanks for being here.  I mean, where else would you want to be on a beautiful Friday morning?”

Chris Clemens and Kim Godawa massage and bandage Rob’s feet in Monument Valley.

He said his short sleep felt like a full night.  He woke himself up (unusual in this ferocious race), and got his team back on the road.  I pray the pattern continues for the next 8 days.

Each time I talk to Rob, he mentions his massage therapist, Darla Workman.  He says she is definitely a rock star. His nickname for her is Healer.   Her massages have been perfect for him—and she’s generously working on the rest of the crew.  She is giving good reports on the state of Rob’s muscles.  Healthy, not swollen, and strong.

This morning, Rob’s crew loaned Darla to our other 3000 Miles to a Cure cyclist, Marshall Reeves.  Marshall’s massage therapist was in a horrible, rollover car accident on his way to the start of the race.  He was pretty banged up and certainly unable to come on this trip.  So…Darla   gladly gave up her sleep to help out Marshall this morning.

Before we began the race, Darla told about her brother-in-law, who died of brain cancer.  She asked Rob if she could be on his team.  When a spot opened up on Rob’s team, she jumped in and has served tirelessly.  

I spoke with Darla after she worked on Marshall.  She was thankful for the opportunity and she wanted to DO something.  This is a big DO.  Darla is a giver—like Rob, like Christina. She loves being able to do her part to keep Rob and Marshall on the road and help raise money to fight brain cancer.

Please join us in our race to find a cure for brain cancer.  The donations have been coming in beautifully these past 24 hours.  The notes with them are so encouraging as we read them to Rob!  You can give here. Thank you for following Rob and sharing with your friends. The great cloud of witnesses is increasing by the hour.

The Messenger,

Jo Dee Ahmann