Ralf's cycle for Sight

Well folks it's now time to say good night,adieu,adios and sweet dreams. This blog will be the last one re: Ralf's Cycle for Sight.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone for their generous donations,support and prayers that made Ralf's solo jouney an amazing success. And to the critters Ralf met along the way-prarie dogs,vulchers,ducks- they added some comic relief needed for such a long journey.

 As of October 13,2011, $22,697.00 was raised. To quote Tara,Annual Giving Manager,Boston Foundation for Sight, "Absolutely incredible! And very much appreciated!
I am posting the letter Tara  submitted to the foundation's news letter re Ralf's cycle.

"Would you ride across Canada to raise money for an organization
that restored the sight of your child?

Ralf Jarchow recently undertook a bicycle ride across Canada to raise money for Boston Foundation for Sight (BFS).  Ralf’s 2112 mile ride from Calgary, Alberta to his home in Brampton, Ontario required willpower and stamina – the same traits that his daughter, Megan drew on for years before coming to BFS.  The ride was an expression of his gratitude for the life-restoring treatment that Megan and many other victims of blinding and painful corneal diseases receive at BFS. 

At age eight, Megan was diagnosed with ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP), a rare, blistering corneal disease that, over time, threatened her eyesight and caused increasing pain.  Nothing seemed to stop its inexorable progression, until she received PROSE treatment, which improved her vision and gave her instantaneous relief from the constant eye pain.  Today, Megan is a thriving college student studying nursing having been inspired by the care she received at BFS.

As more doctors and patients discover Boston Foundation for Sight and PROSE treatment, the need for financial assistance grows.  Your gift makes it possible for us to provide patient-centered compassionate care to all who walk through our doors and enables our amazing staff to carry our mission forward at an even faster pace.  Help transform the lives of patients like Megan by giving them the precious gift of sight.

When reflecting upon the reason for his journey, Ralf said “I felt that BFS was a marvelous organization and if I could do anything to help others, I would.”  But you don’t have to ride across Canada to make a commitment of financial support. Please take a minute to fill out the attached donation form and make a tax deductible contribution.  You can also make a donation online on our website at www.bostonsight.org and click on “DONATE”.  Or, if you would like to discuss other, inventive fundraising opportunities such as Ralf’s Ride, please call Tara Stepanian at 781-726-7512."

Tara

Tara Stepanian

Annual Giving Manager

Boston Foundation for Sight

464 Hillside Avenue, Suite 205

Needham, MA 02494

P:  781-726-7512 (direct dial)

F:  781-726-7310

http://www.bostonsight.org/

I had her make a correction which was to say "Megan is a thriving university student" as opposed to college student.Here in Canada we have universities,not just colleges.

I had indicated in my blog from 3 months ago (July) that I had 10 things I would do differently if I did this again.... "Shoot me if I'm doing this again.....correction...shoot Ralf,not me". At the time I thought it was funny but 3 months later I'm not so sure.But here goes.Taken from my journal 3 months ago but still relevant for future support vehicles

.

The TOP 10

1)Buy a hard expensive cooler. I bought the cheap ($12) styrofoam cooler. Now I think I paid too much for it. Loaded it with 10 lbs.of ice,bottled water,juice for the next water break (roughly every 10 k).

The next am went to put another 10lbs.of ice in cooler....no melted water left from yesterday in cooler-?evaporated?  Much to my chagrin,10 lbs.of melted ice filled my back seat yesterday and now 10 lbs.of ice filled my back seat today.  My new car is looking like my old car :(

2)Don't try to read good book-hard to drive and read at same time. Better to have audio tapes...that way you can drink McDonald's coffee,put lipstick on, and steer at same time while reading/listening to good book. Reading "Under an Afgan Sky" by Mellissa Fung.

3)buy GPS with volume control on side of unit and not internally located. Norm Jackson would know what I'm talking about. Had volume up high while driving to Lake Michigan to meet Ralf....daughter Megan calls ,4 hours north of Brampton with car that just stopped running on hwy;van full of friends,Megan frantic,called Norm to ask what I should do but he couldn't hear me as the gps kept saying "recalculating" and I couldn't turn it down....Murphy's Law,the first of many, kicking in.

4)bring box(es) of tide for washing smelly cycling clothes.Ralf  using the little motel bar of soap.

5)bring quarters and loonies to use in washing machines.Before I arrived on the scene Ralf was just washing clothes in bathtub/sink.

6)bring more clothes.Was only planning on staying 2 nights not 6!

7)always have cyclist leave area (where he stopped) first. Twice I left first only to see Ralf picking up his bike from the ground where it had been leaning on my CAR....or don't place bike against car...it's not a bike rack.

8)took pics from (moving) car of Ralf cycling."Objects in mirror closer than they appear" should also be on front window when taking pictures from driver's seat behind wheel. Would have been upset if I ran over Ralf on his bike when he was so close to completing his trek.....and not to mention what it would have done to my new car.

9)keep cycling shoes and socks double bagged when left overnight in car.....unpleasant odour lingering in car. Initially thought an animal had crawled in car and died. I think that given the choice I would opt for the dead animal. Buy odour eaters;throw socks away daily;large bath/beach towel for front seat to absorb sweat and perspiration from sweaty biker.

10)carry duct tape. So many times I could have used it-(a)in Sarnia,had to call hotel security to open  door for us as door knob came off in my hand and couldn't get it back on; (b) hotel in Burlington,shower knob,you guessed it,off..............

Thought the Top 10 would cover everything but realized after I got to 10 I could have gone on for another 10. If I were to add one more,#11,it would be changing the title of "Ralf's Cycle for Sight" to "Ralf's Changing Flats for Sight". That one day, Ralf changed his tire 6 times...

 Well this brings the blog to an end.Once again, Ralf and I want to thank each and everyone of you that made his journey an amazing success.Thanks to your financial generou$ity this has helped not just one person receive the gift of sight but a few.

If Ralf decides to do something like this again,I will have to put him down.I know you'll understand.

Hugs and Kisses,

Valerie and Ralf

Photos and financial statement

To view photos of Ralf's last days (including the 'Welcome Home Celebration') go on Facebook and search for: Valerie Jarchow. The photo albums have been made public for everyone to see.

Financial update as of Tuesday July 26th @10 pm:

~Online donations to the Boston Foundation for Sight-$2810.00
                               ~Cheques to Boston Foundation-$7550.00
                                                       ~Cash collected -$5701.97
                                                                               Total-$16061.97
 
 * an additional $2000.00 has been pledged which brings total up to $18061.97*

A BIG thank you to everyone for supporting Ralf's Ride.You have helped changed lives for the better...

God Bless,
Valerie and Ralf
                      

Day 21 written on Day 22....Welcome Home Ralf and bike

Day 21 started off having breakfast with our good friends Pauline and Norm Jackson. Norm made sure he hydrated himself well in preparation for the cycle from Campleville to Brampton. Ralf was meeting anyone who wanted to join Norm and him as they cycled to picturesque Brampton. He was greeted by his brother Uwe (pronounced by one as Ooh-Vay ),his sister in law Barb,mother Erika. They preferred to drive in a/c vehicle.So at 12:30 Ralf and Norm on bicycles,Uwe,Pauline and myself headed out along 5th sideroad from Mohawk Inn with the sound of bagpipers. Initially it was thought that Glenn Mottershead had arranged for the group of bagpipers to pipe Ralf in but it's hard to run and bagpipe at the same time...so I'm told. Apparently the group of bagpipers practice Sat am in the parking lot of the Mohawk Inn.Having seen a guest room at the Mohawk Inn I'd rather sleep in my car in the parking lot.
At the corner of Winston Churchill and 5th sideroad (Embleton Rd.,Huttonville) we were met by throngs of well wishers; an unmarked police car and a fire engine.The fire engine led the procession home; the unmarked police car would pull ahead to stop traffic at intersections the whole time keeping their flashing lites on and sounding the sirens as needed. This was quite the amazing site. Cars would pull over to the soft shoulder when they would see the fire engine coming only to see it was followed by a Forrest Gump looking character on a Giant (make) bike. The crowd on Ridgehill Drive were awaiting with a Finish Line banner expecting to see Ralf come in off Parkend but I called them at last minute to say fire engine was going down Kingsview...so the banner holders quickly shuffled to point it in the opposite direction. What a perfect ending to an amazing accomplishment. A big thank you to Glenn Mottershead and the boys at the Party Centre- Ron Hanley and Rick Patywich for contacting the fire and police department for their support and involvement. Pauline Jackson told the police "that this was the first time I had been in the presence of a police officer with a siren sounding and it was a good thing."
Robyn ,Terry and Christian did a great of getting place ready for bbq. Sue and Don made terrific Finish Line banners and everyone else who was here in spirit or body made Ralf's Ride a success. Saturday's ( last fundraiser) bbq made $3380. An annoymous donor said the money raised would be matched dollar for dollar so another $3380.00 was donated bringing yesterday's total to $6760.00. So far the amount raised that has been raised is $12,308.00. That does not include a donation of $2000.00 by another friend;$50.00 to be dropped off today. We are still hoping to reach the $15,000.00 mark as sponsorship continues to come in.We will post the final tally when all is said and done.
Ralf will return to work yesterday wearing ?what?  After he embarked on his trek I took all his suits and several shirts to the dry cleaners.Told them there's no rush.I was going to pick them up before he returned home EXCEPT I wasn't home to pick them up. Ralf's mom called this am and I told her about the suits.She thought it would be a good idea if Ralf went into work wearing his cycling clothes.I didn't have the heart to  tell her Ralf had a sacrificial  offering (burning) of the cycling garments last nite....fire truck left site too soon. Saved bike as silent bid was too good to ignore/burn.
I will also blog "what things I would do differently" for those embarking on a similar trek  :) or :(
FYI.Ralf started journey at 217 pounds;weighed in this morning at 205 pounds.Total weight loss of 12 pounds.I'm sure after the beard goes it will probably be more.Depending how much I may start shaving my face too!
...to be continued..............

Day 20 (2nd last day on the road ..)

Robyn is writing (Val is dictating - per usual ;)  hahahah ... I'm kidding .. but seriously ..
Val has a shower to start her day and while adjusting 'hot and cold' - knob comes off in hand. ??What is it with handles since I've been on this trip??
Drove back to Waterdown to start where Ralf left off yesturday.
Val continues to read her book "Under an Afghan Sky" (great book - she highly recommends it). Ralf proceeds to take bike from car - ready to soldier through another hot day.
Val looks up - Ralf is already on his way .. she better put the book down as she does not know where he is headed.
Val pulls over on soft shoulder and resumes reading book.
Reading interrupted by knock on window - as Ralf rides passed her. She had to put the book down (sigh)
Going Northwest - thought she should discuss with Ralf the directions - he flew on by and gestured to keep on going.
The road was going uphill (as they are on edge of the escarpment) - Ralf sends Val ahead to see how far it was until the road turned (off the escarpment).. he calls Val while she was at the 3km mark and tells her that he decided to turn off on another road.
(So much for having CAA maps and GPS systems ... good'ol Ralf intuition)
Going through town of Kilbri - beautiful but very hilly. Directions through this area consists of "First right, next left" - last minute instructions from Ralf - it is no wonder that we got lost from each other .. many times.
Robyn called - thinking about going white water rafting with friends, asked if Dad would want to go (being the adventurous one he is) .. Val suggests that Ralf would probably want to cycle there .. (sarcastically) and Ralf emphatically replied "NO"   :)
Continued to hear from Megan - she came 1st in two events and placed 4th overall (in the 18+ age group for Canada). Val retorts that atleast the other top 3 had BOTH eyes to see out of (Megan is still in eye patch and depth perception is off - gets dizzy quite easily) .. Val is a VERY proud momma! Megan continues to get daily checkups from the doctor at the hospital - eye repatched with ointment (gel) to keep eyes moist - scratches still there, however, improving .. comfort level - also improving
Goes to the hospital Saturday morning - then flies home that afternoon - will greet her and her teammates at the airport in the evening ..
Today was a better day for cycling - not as hot or humid. It was a shorter cycle today - rode to Guelph line and 401 area - where he will meet up with people at the Mohawk Inn at noon tomorrow (who will ride in with him back home) and will then proceed to Winston Churchill and Embleton Rd. to meet up with the rest of the convoy (feel free to join them!!!!!!!). An unmarked police car and (possibly) a fire truck will escort him home .. also peel regional police officers on bikes will be joining him to bring him safely back home ..
to live HAPPILY EVER AFTER .. where no bicycles will be in sight .. EVER ... (anyone want a free bike?? or tires??)

Stay tuned to Val's next blog: "SUPPORT VEHICLE; 10 THINGS I WOULD DO (DIFFERENTLY) IF I DID THIS AGAIN"

(Excerpt from blog)

#1.) Shoot me - if I do this again (correction .. shoot Ralf, not me, if he ever does this again ... lol) 

Day 19 cont'd

NOTE: With regards to last post - BREAKING NEWS!!!

There was a Turkey Vulture circling around Ralf while he was struggling up a hill ... Ralf yells "I'm NOT dead yet"

"Damn Bird"