Team Will Blog

Home Sweet Home

It is hard to believe that Ride to Reach the Day came to a successful conclusion almost a week ago.  What an overwhelming sight it was to see all 16 riders (plus three friends who joined in for the last leg) riding single file into Norfolk, VA.  The riders were trailed by all four team vans and the medical RV.  Heads were turned watching all the orange Team Will jerseys go by.

At the hospital, the riders had the chance to meet a young girl who came out to see what all the commotion was about.  It was then on to the local park for much appreciated sandwiches and cool drinks.  A few of the riders then made the journey down to the Atlantic Ocean to make the ten day trip complete from coast to coast.

When all was said and done, approximately $50,000 was raised for CureSearch.  There are many people that need to be thanked for making the entire trip an outstanding success.  Those who contributed money, opened their homes for events and meetings and those who gave of their time were integral in helping to fight childhood cancer.

The Trip Home:

Because we had not seen enough of the country on the trip out, Steve L, Matt C and Chris M decided to drive back.  We loaded up a van with 9 bikes and all kinds of gear and headed west.  We did not make a lot of stops along the way, but did get to see some incredible things.  There was a storm along the East Coast the day we left, so we were rained on for much of the first day.

By making this trip, we added two more states to the journey.  On the way back we drove through West Virginia and Indiana.  Although we did not stop in either state, they were quite beautiful form what we could see along the highway.  We ran into traffic in four spots - St. Louis, MO -  Denver, CO - Salt Lake City, UT and Reno, NV.  Not bad for a 3,000 mile trip.

The only other delay we ran into was when we ran out of gas four miles short of the Utah/Nevada border.  It would have been worse if we did not have 7 bikes on the roof.  Steve jumped into action, grabbed Ken Kiefer's bike off the rack and rode down to the gas station.  Half an hour later we were back on the road like nothing had ever happened.

Stats on the drive back:

• States covered - 11
• Miles driven - 3,100
• Time driving - 50 hours 30 minutes
• Best food - it's a toss up between Arthur Bryant's BBQ in Kansas City, KS and the Sky Terrace Sushi Bar at the Atlantis casino in Reno, NV.
• Best Fireworks - Anywhere along I-70 in the state of Missouri
• Most beautiful part of the drive - another toss up between southwestern Colorado and West Virginia.

Media Coverage

Team Will received some media coverage the day we left Sacramento.  Here is the KCRA story from June 16.

Team Will Makes Norfolk, VA! Let the celebration begin!

We just heard from Chris M. that the entire Team Will rode together for the last 16 miles of the trip into Norfolk, VA. They visited a childrens' hospital there are now celebrating, eating and resting with their families in a local park. Way to go Team Will!! Congratulations!

Erik K.

Almost There

Greeting from Raleigh, North Carolina.  Team four just arrived and is settling in for their final ride tomorrow.  Today we were lucky enough to cross another state border during our ride.  This time it was dropping into North Carolina from Tennessee.

We've got to get some rest before tonight's ride so I will try to update in more detail tomorrow after we finish up in Norfolk.  In the meantime, enjoy the new pictures posted to the right.

Chris M.

On the way to Norfolk!

Good afternoon, I talked with Tanya K. as the Kiefer Family made its way to Norfolk, VA

to stay the night.  I'll give a summary of the information I received from Tanya.

Apparently, Team 2 made it through their ride (post rain delay) by waiting out the thunderstorms at several Dairy Queens along the way. I'd say they've earned the calories! Yesterday, members of Team Will and the Kiefers visited the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, TN. They were not able to see any kids, but did meet one father of a child undergoing cancer treatments. They also dropped off DVDs that the kids could watch during treatments.

This morning Jeanette, daughter of drivers Fran and Michael Evans, through Team 1 and 4 a breakfast at the switchover location in a park in Ashville, North Carolina early this morning. Team 1 started its ride heading for the next major city of Raleigh, NC.

Team Will plans to be in Norfolk, VA by about 2:15pm tomorrow for the final leg of their trip and a celebration at the Children's Hospital of Kings' Daughters. Rumor has it that the Team Will riders will then make a short trip along the coast so that they can dip their tires in the Atlantic Ocean.

Also, thanks to SCAT bikes in Norfolk for saving bicycle boxes for Team Will to use to send their bikes back to California. This effort was organized by our friends at Raleigh - Rob Allen and David Holland - for contacting SCAT for us and for selling great bikes at a great price. Ken Kiefer and Steve Long are both riding 2005 Raleigh

bikes cross-country.

Keep Team Will in your thoughts and prayers as they complete the final legs of this amazing journey designed to raise awareness and funds to “Reach the Day” when every child with cancer is guaranteed a cure!

Erik K.

Team 2 - Two days to go

Team 2 checking in from the IHOP in Hickory, NC.  We will be riding today from 3-9pm (EDT) from Hickory, NC to Lexington, NC.  Yesterday was one of the best scenic rides yet for Team 2.  We were riding through the Tennessee hills (or mountains, I guess) right after a big storm passed.  Remaining in the storm's tracks were low hanging clouds that hugged the hills and settled in the valleys.  The roadway was smooth and rolling, with very little traffic.  None of us had ever been through this area before, but we all agreed that it was a very beautiful place.

Yesterday we also visited the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.  The hospital is only two years old and state-of-the-art, so it was real neat to see the "emerging" trends that children's hospitals are adopting....for instance, each floor has a different theme such as a jungle or pond....instead of telling a child that they will be staying on "Floor 6", they stay on the "pond floor" and the children follow the ducks on the wall to their room.  Pretty creative stuff....

ok, time to run.  We'll be finishing in Norfolk tomorrow!

Team 2

Three States In One Day

Team four reporting in from western Kentucky.  We started our day 14 hours ago in Jefferson City, MO with a 90 mile ride through the unexpected hills along the Missouri River.  Once finished we found a Steak and Shake - our second stop there in under 12 hours and then preceded to drive from Missouri, through Illinois and into Kuttawa, Kentucky. 

We got to see the Arch in St Louis.  In fact, because of traffic delays it took us almost an hour to pass by it on the Mark McGuire (I-70) expressway.  We are also experiencing the weather that was mentioned by team 2 in the previous post.

I have also renamed team four's albums because I am not sure if the days are accurate. 

Hope everyone back home is doing well.  Your support and encouragement is much appreciated.

Chris M.

Rain Delay

As we write, Team 2 is on "rain delay" in Freeburg, IL due to severe thunderstorms moving through the area.   Unfortunately, the forecast doesn't show the weather letting up anytime soon.  We're going to sit it out for a little while and see what happens.  On the positive side, Chris and Becky (natives of Wisconsin) are enjoying the opportunity to sit through a good midwestern thunderstorm again.

In the mean time, we'll fill you in on a few more details from our ride.

• Today we visited SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital where we met some of the children in the oncology center.  Team Will thanks for children and their families for letting us visit them today.
• Last night, most of Team 2 got to experience Steak 'n Shake (one of our sponsors) for the first time.  We then stayed at the First Baptist Church in Raytown, MO.  Thanks to David at FBC for letting us stay.
• On Monday night, we were guests of Casey Broxson and Tom in Denver.  Thanks Casey and Tom for your hospitality!
• Chris and Becky are in search of cheese curds to share with the Team.  We're hoping a few bags have migrated south to Illinois. 
• Tonight we are staying with Debbie Cox and her family in St. Louis.  Debbie called me today to tell me that she made a special trip to the "little Italy" of St. Louis to get food for the Team.  I can't wait to see what she has planned!

We'll hopefully have some more pictures up soon.

Team 2

Funds Keep Coming and Team Will Takes the Arch

At approx. 2:30 St. Louis time Team 1 and Team 2 made their transition at the Arch.

Thank you all for your support!

Through continuing donations and the fundraising efforts of MWH (www.mwhglobal.com) in Salt Lake City and Denver offices we have now raised an additional $7,200 since we have started the ride.

Be sure to donate and donate often

www.team-will.org/support.htm

Well Team 3 is about to leave the great hospitality of St. Louis and meet up with Team2 in Ill. and begin our take over of Kentucky.

Ken Kiefer

Greetings From Jefferson City, MO

Team four is getting ready to bed down for the night day in anticipation for our ride at 2am (midnight, Pacific time) across the last part of Missouri.  Looking forward to seeing the Mississippi River shortly.

But a little bit about where we are now.  If you think home prices are too high in California, you should think about the Mid West.  According to the local real estate book, you can get home with 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 fireplaces, a full basement on 8 acres for only $239,900...

Team four would also like to point out that nothing goes to waste on this trip.  For proof, check out the following photograph of Matt and Steve getting their sports drinks ready today:

It's a good thing we found that pile of Gatorade at the hotel...

Team 2 Update

Team 2 has finally taken a few minutes to sit in the parking lot of some hotel and borrow their wi-fi.  We're due to ride again at 2pm (CDT) today from Lawrence, KS to Kansas City.  A few highlights from the team so far...

• Team 2 riders are doing great....each member has ridden between 250-325 miles so far.
• The toughest ride yet was Colorado, where we climbed from about 6,000 ft. to 10,600 ft. over Vail Pass.
• Yesterday, all 4 team members rode 75 miles across Kansas
• The reception at MWH in Denver was GREAT!  Good food, good people, and an overwhelming show of support.

Ok, we gotta run.  As internet access becomes more available, we will try to update more frequently.  In the mean time, check out a few pictures from the Team. 

Team 2