National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Wheels of fortune
Athletic trainer tackles cross country journey to raise funds, test self
Athletic trainer tackles cross country journey to raise funds, test self
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By Leilana McKindra
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
As an assistant athletic trainer at Ferris State University, Tim Glover is dedicated to helping student-athletes go the distance. This summer, though, Glover is the one going the extra mile by exchanging the training tape, ice packs and ACE bandages for a bicycle and a long stretch of open road to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Glover is participating in the 2007 America by Bicycle Cross Country Challenge, which pushed off in San Francisco June 2. During the 52-day bike tour, he will cross 13 states and cover 3,836 miles before arriving in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 24.
Glover began cycling last summer as a way of becoming more active. After talking with a former participant of an America by Bicycle tour, he decided to embark on the cross country challenge. The veteran athletic trainer also linked up with Team ACS, an online fund-raising tool that allows individuals to turn 5K runs, bike races, marathons and other events into opportunities to support the research, education, advocacy and patient service programs of the American Cancer Society.
“I don’t believe there’s anyone who hasn’t been affected by this disease,” said Glover, who noted that the Ferris State athletic training staff recently lost a friend and colleague, Grand Valley State University Athletic Trainer Todd Jager, to the disease. “Research is vital to finding a cure — and that can only happen through financial support.”
Although the tour and the fund-raising are new to him, Glover’s goal of raising $50,000 is as ambitious as the physical challenge of pedaling from California to New Hampshire.
To prepare for what he expects to be one of the biggest mental and physical challenges of his life, Glover has steadily increased his pace and distance since last summer, progressing from rides of 10-15 miles at 12 mph to 60-70 mile rides at more than 15 mph. The tour averages 80 miles per day, with the shortest day at 50 miles and the longest day at 121 miles.
On the fund-raising front, Glover has collected about $2,330. Though still far short of his goal, he remains optimistic and points to a secondary purpose he hopes to achieve through the tour.
“As athletic trainers, we strive to educate our athletes, prevent injury and promote healthy lifestyles. This ride and fund-raiser are no different,” he said. “If a decent share of the readers log onto the ACS Web site or call the ACS information hotline to learn what they can do to promote a healthy lifestyle to help prevent cancer, obesity and diabetes, I will consider that a great victory.”
This trip isn’t just about raising money for the American Cancer Society or even promoting a healthy lifestyle. Glover admits there have been times in his life when the going got tough, he didn’t get going. “This will be an opportunity to see exactly what I’m made of,” he said.
Along the way, Glover also hopes to rediscover his own work/life balance after years of 50-hour-plus work weeks, including evenings, holidays and weekends, which have left little time for vacations or relaxing with friends and family. Consequently, Glover believes the tour offers him a chance to recalibrate his life.
“I want to feel more passionate about living again. I want to accomplish a goal that deep down I feel is completely out of my reach,” he said. “This tour is the perfect opportunity to figure out who I am and where I’m going.”
As a pleasant bonus, Glover will have a chance to spend time with his brother, who also signed on for the cross country trek after recently moving back to the United States from Australia.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.ferris.edu/sports and click on the Glover’s Cross Country Challenge link. Contributions (checks made payable to ACS) also may be mailed to Glover at Ferris State University, 210 Sports Drive, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307.
Glover is participating in the 2007 America by Bicycle Cross Country Challenge, which pushed off in San Francisco June 2. During the 52-day bike tour, he will cross 13 states and cover 3,836 miles before arriving in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 24.
Glover began cycling last summer as a way of becoming more active. After talking with a former participant of an America by Bicycle tour, he decided to embark on the cross country challenge. The veteran athletic trainer also linked up with Team ACS, an online fund-raising tool that allows individuals to turn 5K runs, bike races, marathons and other events into opportunities to support the research, education, advocacy and patient service programs of the American Cancer Society.
“I don’t believe there’s anyone who hasn’t been affected by this disease,” said Glover, who noted that the Ferris State athletic training staff recently lost a friend and colleague, Grand Valley State University Athletic Trainer Todd Jager, to the disease. “Research is vital to finding a cure — and that can only happen through financial support.”
Although the tour and the fund-raising are new to him, Glover’s goal of raising $50,000 is as ambitious as the physical challenge of pedaling from California to New Hampshire.
To prepare for what he expects to be one of the biggest mental and physical challenges of his life, Glover has steadily increased his pace and distance since last summer, progressing from rides of 10-15 miles at 12 mph to 60-70 mile rides at more than 15 mph. The tour averages 80 miles per day, with the shortest day at 50 miles and the longest day at 121 miles.
On the fund-raising front, Glover has collected about $2,330. Though still far short of his goal, he remains optimistic and points to a secondary purpose he hopes to achieve through the tour.
“As athletic trainers, we strive to educate our athletes, prevent injury and promote healthy lifestyles. This ride and fund-raiser are no different,” he said. “If a decent share of the readers log onto the ACS Web site or call the ACS information hotline to learn what they can do to promote a healthy lifestyle to help prevent cancer, obesity and diabetes, I will consider that a great victory.”
This trip isn’t just about raising money for the American Cancer Society or even promoting a healthy lifestyle. Glover admits there have been times in his life when the going got tough, he didn’t get going. “This will be an opportunity to see exactly what I’m made of,” he said.
Along the way, Glover also hopes to rediscover his own work/life balance after years of 50-hour-plus work weeks, including evenings, holidays and weekends, which have left little time for vacations or relaxing with friends and family. Consequently, Glover believes the tour offers him a chance to recalibrate his life.
“I want to feel more passionate about living again. I want to accomplish a goal that deep down I feel is completely out of my reach,” he said. “This tour is the perfect opportunity to figure out who I am and where I’m going.”
As a pleasant bonus, Glover will have a chance to spend time with his brother, who also signed on for the cross country trek after recently moving back to the United States from Australia.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.ferris.edu/sports and click on the Glover’s Cross Country Challenge link. Contributions (checks made payable to ACS) also may be mailed to Glover at Ferris State University, 210 Sports Drive, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307.
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