Well, ladies and gents…..this is my first blog after concluding our cross-country ride. This will be my last entry on the ride this summer, but I plan on continuing my blog to keep everyone updated on how the Lord is working in my life and our plans to continue in the fight against Alzheimer’s, so please keep in touch!
I’d like to start off by extending some much-needed “Thank You’s”. Thank you to the other riders, who committed themselves to this cause and put their hearts and souls into FAA to make it an amazing success. Thank you to our families, for allowing us to leave home for the summer and encouraging us along the way. Thank you to our fans, without your constant support we would have had no reason to keep pedaling as we faced some of the greatest physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges of our life. Thank you to our sponsors and donors, for providing the financial resources needed to cycle cross-country and raise money for Alzheimer’s research.
As I sit back and recollect the development of this journey, it is hard to pinpoint exactly when FAA was started. I tell people all the time that cycling cross-country was #7 on my bucket list and I wanted to do something to honor my grandfather after seeing my family suffer from Alzheimer’s. What most people don’t know is exactly when the ride came to be. The reason for this, to be completely honest, is that even I am unsure! The Lord really laid this idea on my heart over a year and a half ago, and through seeking advice from family/friends and constantly praying about it, the ride just seemed to unfold before my eyes. Looking back at it all, I feel as if it was almost a dream (especially since I didn’t lose a single pound on the ride!). Everything seemed as if it were just meant to be. I am certain many of the situations we were placed in and people we encountered did not happen by chance. We certainly spread awareness for Alzheimer’s to many people with our venture, but we were all inspired by the incredible kindness and generosity of individuals all across America. Lessons from this trip are ones that I know each of us will carry with us for the rest of our lifetimes.
A point I would like to make is that I am not a cyclist. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy riding my bike and the solitude I can find out on an old country road with the sound of my tires rolling on fresh pavement. But it’s not about the bike. The day I begin to idolize my bicycle rather than use it as a vehicle to promote a good cause, whether it is Alzheimer’s, personal fitness, or anything else, is the day I need to stop riding. Cycling has helped me get in better shape, explore parts of my state and country that I would have never seen otherwise. It has offered me an opportunity to meet some amazing people and share our story to so many. But what is most special to me is that Alzheimer’s gave me a reason to ride. At first it was because of my grandfather, but as the trip progressed I learned it was about so much more than that. After hearing some pretty serious, tear-jerking accounts of how people have suffered through Alzheimer’s, I actually learned how blessed my family was throughout the whole process. I can honestly say that without the daily dedications and morning devotionals there would have been some days that I couldn’t have made it. Knowing that we were riding for something bigger than ourselves is what kept us going. To the thousands of you who followed our ride, sent us texts of encouragement, or even “liked” our Facebook statuses…….each one of those meant the world to the guys.
From a cheap website to a t-shirt design, from Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walks to a cross-Kentucky training ride, this ride’s foundation was laid. Family and friends prayed for the ride and provided support, which we needed to boost our confidence during the winter months as the idea for the ride almost dissolved. However, despite one of the busiest semesters of our lives (Fraternity Chartering, full class schedules, training/logistical planning/fund raising/ media attention for the ride), and through generous support from our sponsors and individual donors, we were able to persevere and pass our finals just in time to set off on the adventure of our lives. Starting in the Pacific Ocean, through the Mohave Desert of Arizona, over the 11,000 –foot pass at the Continental Divide, against the 20mph winds in Kansas, up the steep inclines of the Missouri Ozarks, through our beautiful homeland of Kentucky, and over the grueling Appalachians, we finally found ourselves at our final destination. 
Fifty-five days of riding and over 3000 miles of backcountry roads and state highways got us to Yorktown, Virginia. As we stood on the beach of the Chesapeake Bay, we reminisced on how America had won our freedom from Britain in Yorktown, VA 
so many years before, and were inspired as the ride, similarly, has become a part of the fight to win freedom from this awful disease. With that, we understand that the fight is not over. Millions of families are still suffering from Alzheimer’s while someone is being diagnosed with the disease every 15 seconds! Our fight is not over. We may have completed the trip, but we will continue to advocate, spread awareness, and raise funds for research until there is a cure for Alzheimer’s
What is in the store for FAA’s future? Keep in touch……we have some pretty awesome ideas! J
Lastly- this really was the trip of a lifetime. One blog can hardly do it justice. I love talking about our journey and sharing experiences with others, so if you are interested in hearing more over a cup of coffee, lunch, or even dessert (though I might have to ride there to burn it off!), I would be overjoyed to do so. I have tons of pictures, videos, and stories that most people have not seen or heard. Feel free to contact me via email (tyler.jury@gmail.com), Facebook, or phone (270-766-7121) if you would like to hear more Jamazing ideas! J
Thank YOU and God Bless!
Sincerely,
Tyler Jury
Tyler, thank you for writing this. It is excellent, and so are you! I have been so inspired by all you guys, your dedication to the Lord, your grit and determination, just wonderful!
So proud of you guys! You all have been in our prayers each and every day and truly have well supported FIJI, WKU, and those who are raising awareness for alzheimers!