I Ride For: Todd

I Ride For: Todd

Today I finished this flag for Todd. But I started it on August 30 when I rode to Grand Canyon Caverns in Arizona. Yes, this means I rode the full 600 miles of Route $66,000 with Todd behind me.

I thought about posting this flag on that first day. Todd is at the beginning of his treatment for Multiple Myeloma. Clearly I passed on this idea.

Then I thought about posting it the day I had all the flats. What a good analogy of the first 6 months of any cancer diagnosis when drinking from a fire hose. Clearly I passed on this idea.

Then I thought about posting it the day I crossed the Continental Divide. That is where Todd wants to be right now. Cancer is no longer growing and is starting to go away. Clearly I passed on this idea.

Then I thought of posting it on the last day. I made my goals and this is where we all strive - MRD 0 (remission for Multiple Myeloma). Clearly I passed on this idea.

Ultimately I passed on all those other spots because I wanted Todd to be the focus of this post. He is too important to get lost between the Great Meteor Carter and the Giants Museum. I could have made any of those other spots work, but my “God nudge” was to wait.

Todd, while I did not think of you with every pedal stroke, I did think of you multiple times a day. Multiple Myeloma stinks along with all the other kinds of cancer. And yet there is a camaraderie that I have experienced that I have never had before. The medicine is important. The connections are vital. Thank you for being one of my connections.

SHINE!
The Road Rider

PS. Of course I am still fundraising. Todd does not get to be that “on his own”. I have had a great response. Thank you. For sure would still like to beat my record a couple years ago of $72,000. Here are the links.

Dana Farber
https://profile.pmc.org/JM1309

Children’s Cancer Research Fund
https://greatcyclechallenge.com/Riders/JeffMulder

Healthtree
https://give.healthtree.org/TheRoadRider2026