the finish

Well we are done--what a great experience more than can really be expressed. I found myself very overwhelmed for the past few days. At the finish, there were many kids with NF and it really made it all so very real with our 3 CTF teams standing there cheering on these teams (Ari's Angels, Drew's Crew and of course Team Sami) and these kids. One day Sami will grow up and hopefully he will know how many people came together for him and a cure. As his mother, I do not know how I can thank all those involved. Before we even got to the start so many people were involved in our effort to raise research funds. My nephew had a golf tournament for us, 6 bands in Appleton played in a benefit, we put on 2 road races, 2 silent auctions, a snow shoe/cross country ski benefit, cocktail benefit, 12 brat fry's, bake sales, raffles, and all out begging. All the people from neighbors, to Appleton businesses, friends, family was outstanding. SOOOOO many people were involved to get us to the start it goes far and wide. Wider than can be imagined a ripple that just kept growing people really got behind our efforts. Each and everyone can feel good about being part of the solution. The race just brought out so many people on our crew and the riders who worked to hard in the name of my child. It is really something. 

Dawn in Heaven

pictures

Tracy and Brent on bikes

The race is over

What a great experience, our team (riders and crew) had the adventure of a lifetime. A complete team effort every person did exactly what they needed to do to get us to the finish. Tracy climbed the highest hills in West Virginia, Brent sprinted through the 98 degree heat in Kansas, Pete ascended 2 10,000 foot peaks in New Mexico. The crew moved the ship down the field without fail day after day. Amazing to see the riders persevere, Tracy and Brent noticeably got stronger and stronger as the ride went along, holding other teams at bay over the last 48 hours. What an amazing adventure.

Finish 2:02 am Sunday June 28th

We have finished the race, with an amazing sprint to the finish. 2 teams we battled all the way across the country (Berliner and Buzzard Bay) closed in near Gettysburg (100 miles from finish) by putting all their riders in a 4 person rotation for the previous 24 hours. Brent and Ted had road a 12 hour shift overnight holding them at bay over the West Virginia climbs and then handed off to Pete and Tracy for a difficult leg, during that leg we got passed and we decided to bring Ted and Brent back in for a race to the finish. All 4 riders piled in one van with all four bikes (not sure how). We immediately got in rotation, Pete started up the hills for 30 minutes and passed them, putting them in the rear view by 1-2 minutes. Ted was up next and road hard toward Gettysburg for 30 minutes, pulling away rapidly, as we entered Gettysburg Pete got back on and continued the run, Brent was next. After Pete and Ted's first runs we did not see the teams again until the finish line, when the buzzard bay bunch came in well behind us. It was a heroic run "The run to Gettysburg"