Jennifer Davis of Huntley rode her bicycle across northern Iowa as part of the 52nd Annual RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa), with a two-fold purpose.
Davis’ ride of 400 miles raised funds for the Msrklund Home. Marklund Home’s mission, as described on its web site, “is to make everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities.” Davis said her late mother-in-law, Anne Davis, started the family’s support5 of Marklund Home, which has Geneva and Elgin locations. Davis donated $500 to Marklund.
Huntley resident Jennifer Davis during the RAGBRAI bicycle ride in Iowa. (Photo provided)
The second reason for this year’s ride was a comeback for Davis. In 2014, Davis tried RAGBRAI and almost made it to the finish. But an injury with 40 miles to go ended that ride. This year’s RAGBRAI concluded July 26 as participants dipped a tire in the Mississippi River at Guttenberg, Iowa after a start a week earlier at Orange City, bringing satisfaction to Davis.
“We rode across Iowa and the bike pulled a wheelchair with my son Adam’s childhood friend, Justin Moy,” Davis said. “People along the ride were so nice, often pushing the wheelchair. It was a remarkable finish when we dipped a tire in the Mississippi River at 1 p.m., July 26. The people are so supportive along the route, from small towns of 3,000 to 10,000 people, all cheering you on, as their population grew to 30,000 riders (for overnight stays).”
She added her team, including her husband Dan, was able to overcome the race’s challenges. The final day was a 70-mile route.
“The equipment held up well, just a couple of flat tires,” Davis said. “The hills around Guttenberg were the hardest part. Guttenberg is special because the family used to vacation there. It was the same route I rode when I had my crash 11 years ago.”
Asked if she would try RAGBRAI again, Davis commented, “we were planning for next year at the end of the ride, but maybe I will be a team member.”
Davis’s journey began more than 20 years ago when her son, Adam, met Justin Moy, at age nine. Adam ran races with Justin, pushing his wheelchair (Justin has muscular dystrophy) across finish lines, including a half marathon when they placed second and third in their age group. Moy “did great” along RAGBRAI, Davis said, and had a job as communications director.
Davis has been a staunch supporter of the Marklund Home’s mission, and had a QR code on the wheelchair so RAGBRAI participants and spectators could donate.
“We hope to start conversations about accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities and highlight the rsources available through organizations like Marklund,” Davis said in a press release statement.
Marklund’s Elgin location includes “a new and expanded facility with 24-hour care in residential wings located within Marklund Westmont Center. Hyde Center at Geneva is located on a 25-acre campus, with an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) designation, as well as meeting specialized medical, social and emotional needs of 96 residential and community clients. There are six 16-bed houses,” according to Marklund’s web site.
Davis is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author of “Living Exponentially: Unlocking the Power of Every Moment in Your Business and Life.”
Jennifer and Dan Davis have a family of 10 children, and founded Davis Family Companies, which began from a family HVAC business. Davisware LLC grew from a tech venture to an industry pioneering and leading tech company with 250 team members in 16 states and three countries. The Davis founders guided the firm for three decades with many companies stemming from Davisware.
