Hills, Hounds, & Hawkeyes: RAGBRAI 2024
RAGBRAI, or Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, has been a Livestrong tradition since 2007. A weeklong ride and camping trip from one end of the Hawkeye State to the other, this year’s 434-mile event was one of the hilliest yet with 18,737 feet of climb. Team Livestrong dedicated each of these miles to honoring the names on this shirt, all who have been affected by cancer.
A staple of the event for Team Livestrong is the tribute jersey. Each year, the team nominates a member or friend who has faced cancer and creates a jersey featuring all of their favorite things. On one day of RAGBRAI, all of Livestrong’s team members wear the matching jerseys. On the route, many riders stop and ask about the meaning of these unique jerseys, giving team members a chance to talk about why they ride and fundraise for RAGBRAI.
This year’s honoree was Susan Williams, a two-time breast cancer survivor who is lovingly nicknamed “The Rock” for her steady presence on the team. She is the only rider who has participated in every RAGBRAI since the team’s inception in 2007! Susan’s tribute jersey included nods to her beloved dogs, her favorite flowers, her favorite place, her work in special education, meaningful quotes, and of course, the Iowa Hawkeyes.
For the first time, Team Livestrong was joined at RAGBRAI by a furry friend. Team member Carla Meinberg’s blind, yellow tutu-clad senior beagle, Molly, went along for the ride in a bike trailer emblazoned with a poster that read, “Hills aren’t tough! Cancer is!”
Supporters of Livestrong’s RAGBRAI team displayed incredible generosity, raising nearly $30,000 over the team’s goal! Thanks to all who made Livestrong’s annual journey across Iowa a success. To learn more about getting involved with Team Livestrong for an endurance event, visit livestrong.org/events.
