For Dawn’s second entry, click here.
Day Three was again an extraordinary day. This leg of the journey was over 90 miles, and at the top of a very long hill, I stopped at a small country store to rest. The store owner asked about the Tour DaVita and when I told her about it, she shared with me that the former store owner was on dialysis. She thanked me for our efforts and her gratitude reinforced my sense of purpose and helped me forget my sore legs.
We continued into Columbia where I met many kind and fun-loving patients. Among them, I chatted with several who also expressed their appreciation for our efforts, as well as a gentleman from Lewisburg, TN. The small and cozy nature of the unit reminded me of my units in Lewisburg, WV and Covington, VA and I felt a little homesick. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and watched as our ride mayors “threw down their gauntlets” in challenges for next year’s Tour.
There were two inspirational speakers who shared how well they felt on dialysis at DaVita. One of them had just returned to work after a nine year hiatus, and the other was 70 and still working for the Board of Education. We returned to our bike ride well-nourished both physically and spiritually.
The last day on Tour DaVita had a somewhat surreal quality to it. The weather was again perfect and we quickly sped to Brentwood, where we congregated at the high school for our final leg of the journey. We were ordered into groups by age, with those over 60 at the head of the pack, followed by those over age 50, then over age 40, and so forth. Needless to say I was near the front. As we neared the school we could hear the crowds cheering, and passing through that finish line was one of the greatest thrills of my life.
I didn’t want the ride to be over. I met so many wonderful teammates and patients, and truly felt sad to say good-bye. But for the most part, we said, “See you next year on the Second Annual Tour DaVita.”
We were told by our Mayor, Kent Thiry, that we raised over $700,000 for the Kidney Trust. DaVita does indeed give life!!!
September 21, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Dawn, I am so proud of you for taking on the task of this ride. I know it was a lot of hard work for you at a time when you would have rather been at home and I am sure your heart was at home with your Dad. I am sure he is very proud of you. You are an inspiraton to all of us, especially me. Love Ya, Linda