In August, I will be taking part in the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race, racing for the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF), a nonprofit that promotes awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Growing up in Indiana, which is a flat region like a tabletop, my love for mountains came from my father, Jerall. He took me to different terrains and mountain tops - even a hut-to-hut mountain bike trip we took through the San Juans, where I discovered a passion for climbing on my bike.
Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a chronic liver disease that affects my bile ducts. There is currently no cure for PSC except a liver transplant, which means that organ donation isn't just a cause I support—it's my lifeline, and the lifeline for over a hundred thousand people in the U.S. currently waiting for a transplant. Each day, 17 of these people die while waiting. Although 95% of U. S. adults support organ donation, only 48% of us are registered.
Living with this condition has been challenging at times. My wife, Eunice, has been my anchor, supporting and encouraging me every step of the way. Riding my bike also helps, I've found that it offers more than physical relief; it helps me process what I'm facing. I am riding to help end transplant waiting lists. If completing 100 miles in Colorado's thin air encourages just one person to get on the donor registry, it will be worth every pedal.
Since my diagnosis, I have been focusing on my health and fitness, but a race like Leadville once seemed impossible—until I discovered CKF. CKF is making significant strides in educating people of all ages and increasing donor registrations nationwide. Learning that the foundation's founder, Chris Klug, also had PSC and completed this race was the motivation I needed to challenge myself.
I'm also riding to show my kids, June and Quinn, that perseverance pays off and that great achievements require dedication and hard work.
Please support me in raising funds that sustain their vital work. To secure my spot in the race, I need to raise a minimum of $5,000. Eunice and I will be matching every donation dollar-for-dollar. Your contributions are fully tax-deductible.
Thank you for supporting my journey, my family, and this important cause. Together, we can show that with resilience and determination, we can thrive, adapt, and give back—one climb at a time.
