When the Iowa sun turns relentless and the blacktop shimmers with heat, I clip into my pedals and begin the long miles across the eastern part of Iowa. The wind doesn’t always cooperate. The hills don’t magically flatten. And the July humidity? Let’s just say it builds character.

But I ride anyway.

I ride for Team Peacock. I ride for the incredible young women who wear the Peacock Blue for Upper Iowa University. And this year, every mile is dedicated to supporting Women’s Basketball. This will empower student-athletes who are building strength, resilience, leadership, and lifelong friendships on and off the court.

This journey isn’t easy. Crossing the State of Iowa in peak summer heat will test my legs, my lungs, and occasionally my sanity. Truthfully, it’s great training for my JDRF rides and perhaps even better preparation for putting up with Mike Schrock.

But here’s the real reason I push through the tough stretches because the women on our basketball team push through theirs.

They balance early practices with demanding classes. They chase rebounds and academic goals with equal determination. They represent Upper Iowa University with pride, grit, and heart. When we invest in Women’s Basketball, we invest in opportunity, in scholarships, better resources, stronger programs, and an even brighter future for our students and friends.

Every donation — big or small — fuels more than a bike ride. It fuels confidence. It fuels teamwork. It fuels dreams.

When the road feels long and the sun feels unforgiving, I think about what this ride represents: a community coming together to make Upper Iowa University an even better place for the Peacocks who call it home.

So I’m asking you to consider helping me reach my goal this year. Your support makes a significant difference in the lives of our student-athletes. It tells them that their hard work matters. That their community believes in them. That they are worth the miles.

Together, we can go the distance.

Go Peacocks!