RIDE FOR THE CURE

By Renee Watkins

For the 700,000 Americans with a brain tumor, it can be disheartening that this particular form of cancer does not receive much media coverage. The lower survival rates and devastating effects leave many families scrambling to raise awareness when this type of cancer hits close to home.

her husband Gary—she began a painful journey through grief. Slowly, she found some solace in pouring her heart into a project that would honor Gary’s legacy through public service.

Both Kristin and Gary were born and raised in Iowa. Kristin graduated with a BS in General Science from the University of Iowa in 1988.

She went into the pharmaceutical arena and spent over 23 years in the infectious and chronic disease field. Gary was born in Storm Lake, Iowa, in 1961 and graduated from the University of Iowa with a BA in Business Administration in 1983. He enjoyed many years of professional success in sales for printing, packing, and shipping companies.

Years ago, Kristin’s sister was tired of her dating “losers” and urged her to come to a spinning class to meet some new options. During this class, Kristin spotted a handsome man in her periphery. To her surprise, he got off his bike and sat on a bike right next to hers. She was delighted when he asked her out for dinner and a movie. As Kristin puts it, “The rest was history and meant to be from that point on.”

February 2020 marked the beginning of a shared retirement period, and the two spent most of their time enjoying their children and grandchildren. Kristin recalls Gary was “so excited to go out and be adventurous. However, he started having problems reading words.” Thinking this was a symptom of stress, Gary saw a physician who recommended an MRI. Unfortunately, the MRI showed a glioblastoma in Gary’s left parietal lobe.

Following that fateful diagnosis, life became a devastating whirlwind for the Wiedenfeld family. In April 2020, Kristin felt helpless as her hero faced a grueling surgical procedure while isolated from those who loved him most; pandemic precautions were just beginning. Subsequently, Gary endured rounds of chemotherapy and intense radiation sessions through the end of June of that same year. Gary took a month off before his second round of chemotherapy started, and the couple traveled; it was what Gary wanted to do most.

In March 2021, Gary received news that he had a second tumor, and his second surgery did not go well. His health deteriorated rapidly, and Gary passed on May 17, 2021. It was only 13 months from his initial diagnosis to the time he passed. Kristin is forever grateful to have had 23 wonderful years with an incredible man that lived and loved his life and whomever he encountered. She says, “I wish you all could have known him because I know you would have loved him, too.”

This immense loss inspired Kristin to create Gary’s Ride—an annual bike ride designed to raise awareness for this devastating disease. Gary’s Ride is currently partnered with Mercy One Richard Demming Cancer Center. Last year, the ride partnered with Mercy One Des Moines Foundation, which received all funds raised from last year’s memorial ride.

Gary’s Ride will give fundraising proceeds to entities helping secure clinical trials for future treatments. A portion also funds sponsorship of Gary’s Adventures, which provides terminal brain cancer patients the adventure of their dreams. Proceeds will also finance supportive services such as speech, occupational, art, and massage therapies, acupuncture, and rehabilitation. Lastly, Gary’s Ride allocates a portion of funds to their Compassion Fund—a catch-all that assists the financial needs of patients and their families when insurance coverage falls short. Presently, very few treatments are available, and fundraising efforts through Gary’s Ride aim to change that.

Gary’s Ride takes place on May 20th this year and will continue to take place annually on the third Saturday of every May. Join Kristin and her team as they raise awareness during their ride for a cure. For more information on this event, visit garysrideiowa.org.