Friday, July 21, 2006

Sergeant Bluff, IA (Start of RAGBRAI)

Date: 7/21/06
Mileage: 95

Funds Raised:

$11,384.62 for Kupenda
+$500.00 thanks to Some Really Good Friends!!
+$15.00 thanks to James Singelton (bought a T-Shirt)
$20,000 is the goal for Kupenda. That is the amount needed to build a boarding facility so that 30+ children, who have disabilities, will get to go to school!!! It is a chance to really make a difference in a lot of people's lives!!!

$8,420.00 for ADA
Battling diabetes is something that is close to our hearts since Adam has Type I Diabetes. AFC's mission at it's core is to raise awareness, show other diabetics that anything is possible, and to do anything to combat diabetes!


We woke up late today and had an amazing breakfast (blueberry pancakes included!!!) with Kamla and her family in Crescent, Iowa. Every place we meet we have felt so amazingly welcome I can't even describe it! We truly enjoyed the hospitality oh Kamla and her family! Thank you soooooo much :)

(Breakfast!!!)

(Good bye Kamla, Patricia, and Krishna we will miss you!)

Luckily we will see Kamla again because she will be at RAGBRAI next week!!!

The wind was blowing hard against us all day long which made for a long slow day. Luckily the weather was super great. Not hot and a bit cloudy to keep the sun off of us. When we arrived in Sergeant Bluff we saw tons of people getting ready for the start of RAGBRAI... It is going to be great! Tomorrow we are working at the RAGBRAI expo all day long from 12:00 until 9:00 at night. We should be able to sell tons of T-Shirts and talk to lots of people. We also might get to talk at a Church here in town.

(This sign was right outside of Sergeant Bluff...
It reads "Bicycle Traffic Ahead")

Jason Cusick (a good friend and co-worker of mine) and Mike Caputi (aka Weezal, mine and Adam's roommate) met us today. They came to do all of RABRAI with us. Now we will have 2 more people out there on bikes with AFC jerseys on!

-Pattt

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ron and I would like to thank all the incredible people across the country,who have opened up their hearts, homes, and wallets, in order to support the boys and their cause. Your kindness has been such a wonderful reflection on mankind.This is a spiritual journey that the boys and those who love them,( and have supported them), will always remember. God Bless You All - Mom from Hughesville

Anonymous said...

Why is Jesse "grimmacing"

Anonymous said...

This should be an interesting week for you guys. I am still trying to figure out how Iowa can host 20,000 bikers across the state. Especially with toilet facilities!! I always think of the practicalities. You will have to let me know how they handle that-I am certain that they don't want 20,000 people going in the corn fields. And as for the 300 mile trek, I think you need to rethink that a bit. Biking at night can't be safe and also the possibility of wearing yourselves completely out. I also wanted to give you this blurb about heat stroke
During very hot weather, it's important to be aware of the signs of a heat stroke, especially in children and the elderly. According to the American Red Cross, heat-related illnesses come in stages. At first, you may experience muscle cramps. Symptoms after that can include:

moist pale skin
headache
dizziness
nausea
More serious signs of heat stroke, such as vomiting or loss of consciousness, can require immediate medical care.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say each year more people in the United States die from extreme heat exposure than from hurricanes, lightening, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. Over the past two decades, at least 7421 deaths that occurred in this country were attributed to excessive heat exposure. On average, approximately 300 people die each year from exposure to heat. Air conditioning provides the most protection from heat exposure and heat-related deaths. However, some people may be fearful of high utility bills and limit their use of air conditioning. Such action can place people who are already at risk for heat illness at increased risk.

One of the most important involves drinking enough fluids to avoid dehydration. (Read about "Dehydration") The American Council on Exercise recommends drinking six to eight ounces of fluid for every 15-20 minutes of exercise. It's also important to maintain body fluids by drinking enough water, even if you're not working out. The American Red Cross recommends eight glasses of water a day for normal activity. However, if your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him or her how much you should drink while the weather is hot. Light-weight, light colored, loose clothing can also help your body stay cooler. And using common sense helps too. If it's very hot or humid, postpone exercise to avoid the midday heat or move indoors to cooler temperatures

another source

What is heat stroke?
Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is the result of long, extreme exposure to the sun, in which a person does not sweat enough to lower body temperature. The elderly, infants, persons who work outdoors and those on certain types of medications are most susceptible to heat stroke. It is a condition that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment.

What causes heat stroke?
Our bodies produce a tremendous amount of internal heat and we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. However, in certain circumstances, such as extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous activity in the hot sun, this cooling system may begin to fail, allowing heat to build up to dangerous levels.

If a person becomes dehydrated and can not sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature may rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat stroke.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?
The following are the most common symptoms of heat stroke, although each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

headache
dizziness
disorientation, agitation or confusion
sluggishness or fatigue
seizure
hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty
a high body temperature
loss of consciousness
rapid heart beat
hallucinations
How is heat stroke treated?
It is important for the person to be treated immediately as heat stroke can cause permanent damage or death. There are some immediate first aid measures you can take while waiting for help to arrive.

Get the person indoors.
Remove clothing and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating.
Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits.
Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated
Intravenous fluids are often necessary to compensate for fluid or electrolyte loss. Bed rest is generally advised and body temperature may fluctuate abnormally for weeks after heat stroke.

Love,
Mom D

Anonymous said...

Glad you are all doing well - the news and the website is just great. God bless Mom D. for all her information - be sure to follow all her good advice. Be so careful in this extreme weather and don't be afraid to take time off if the heat is too bad. Love, mom B.