Random RAAM thoughts- Long-picture overload

There is no way- none... to tell the story in a short amount of words.

It was crazy, amazing, exhausting, awesome, beautiful, touching, fast, slow....

The people on the team and crew were amazing... many had never met before- all working for a common goal. To get this 12 year old across the country on a bike, inspiring others to be able to do great things.

We got very little sleep- most of it just the semi conscience kind...

sick riders... Tiffany spent the night in a hospital and got chased by dogs we left her bike on the side of the road :/ Got it back though!...Ryan had dog adventure too. Crazy stocker lady chased us.

The riders were brave and amazing.... Connor never tried to get out of his turn on the road, and never complained- he was amazing... seriously, never met a 12 yr old like him.

The Team Connors Hope blog is at www.teamdonatelife.wordpress.com

One day ... I think on day 4, I had a bit of a melt down... not for me, but the riders... they were so tired, no sleep, eating habits totally disrupted, stuck in a cramped vehicle in sweaty clothes , and pushing their bodies past the breaking point.... and there was nothing the crew could do to help but words of encouragement... it was so frustrating and inspiring at the same time. I can't even imagine how they felt. And they rocked it, they were awesome!

Next time I hope to keep up on the blog even if its just a sentence a day.

For this time, this will have to do. Please go read the team blog for the "rest of the story"

At the starting line in Oceanside, CA.

A retarded train that cost us like 40 minutes!!

Ryan left his Blackberry in our car, Geoff taped it up and we told Ryan his phone had a terrible accident hahahaa

this was the view... for 3000+ miles at between 17 and 21 mph

Tiffany Ellison, Diane Christi, Sheryl & Ryan Ellison

Transition at night

Always talking race strategy

Ryan Ellison, Jared Ellison, Bobby

Conner Ellison

Picture is worth a thousand words :)

Awesome picture from Washington DC

Bobby in his element- he was awesome, always happy and encouraging

Almost to the end

WooHoo!!!

Charity Card class-RAAM-Team Donate life- Connors Hope

Several months ago I received an email from Bobby with the link to Connors blog (www.connorsjourney.com). In 2007? I think it was, Bobby rode with Connors Dad, Jared Ellison, on TDL RAAM.

Race Across America (RAAM)- Ultra marathon bicycle race from West coast to East coast, Americas answer to Tour de France. Approx. 3000 miles in approx 7 days. Team Donate Life (TDL): http://www.teamdonatelife.com The "mother" operation bringing awareness to organ donation through bike racing, mostly RAAM. Please see their website for detailed information.

A few weeks after that, Jared asked Bobby to be the crew chief for "Connors Hope".Connors Hope: TDL RAAM team- bringing awareness and raising money for organ donation-consentrating on liver disease and telling Connor Ellisons story http://www.teamdonatelife.com/riders.asp?ifid=42

Bobby was very undecided and was afraid he didn't have the available time to do justice to the team. (As soon as I had read Connors blog, I knew this was a neat kid). Connor Ellison: 12 year old kid- awesome kid- please go see his blog www.connorsjourney.com , it will amaze, touch, and inspire you. Connor has liver disease, will need a transplant in the next few years, and is the youngest person to ever participate in RAAM.

When Bobby got off the phone- I really encouraged him to do this, what an awesome opportunity to be involved in helping a young man accomplish something incredible! How could he not do it!? I mean really... how could he not!? He may not ever have a chance to do something like this again! He was going to call and tell Jared he didn't have time but could advise- I encouraged him to wait a little while and think about it.

Well...a few weeks later he said- You should come... I thought... ya okay ..I can see what you been doing all those weeks you spent peddling across the country. Bobby called Jared and I was part of the crew. However, Bobby is now scaring me with stories of sleep deprivation, few showers, bugs , humidity, a week of bad hair days, and spending 7 -8 days driving cross country at 10-20 mph with a bunch of people I don't know- one of them (Connors Mom ,Tiffany) was Mrs. CA- ya..I know right..a beauty queen..me- bad hair-flat stuck to my head and no makeup for a week with a beauty queen... getting anxiety thinking about it! Seriously though, I did talk to her on the phone and seems really nice :) Bobby loves the family and thinks they are awesome!

Part of our job is to help raise money for the teams charity- Organ donation. My friend Rachele- www.theinkboutique.blogspot.com came up with this great idea to do a card class and all the money will go to our teams charity, she is donating all the supplies- Thanks Rachele!!. We also got some great items to raffle!

Please join us for the class, or donate if you can! We appreciate it!
http://www.teamdonatelife.com/riders.asp?ifid=52