HomeNolan Smith
Washington Beta - Whitman College
My Iron Phi Story
Nolan Smith's Iron Phi Bike Ride for ALS
Hello to all family and friends - including new friends who I have just met along my journey!
During July-August 2019 I'll be attempting to become an Iron Phi - a distinction given to a small percentage of members within my fraternity - by bicycling the entirety of the West Coast, from the tip of Washington State and Canada all the way down to the California-Mexico Border, nearly 2,000 miles! As some of you may know, I have biked a section of this route three years ago (SD to SF). This time I am extending the trip for an amazing cause that I strongly stand behind.
Phi Delta Theta, where I am a fraternity member at Whitman College, has been fiercely involved in the fight against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease); Lou Gehrig was also a member of Phi Delta Theta. Approximately 5,600 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS each year. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS patients eventually leads to their death. Although ALS was discovered nearly 150 years ago, scientists are still years away from finding an effective treatment or a cure. That's why I'm becoming an Iron Phi - to challenge myself and to help do something bold about Lou Gehrig's disease.
More than 3,600 Phis of all ages and athletic abilities have raised over $1.4 million by doing everything from running and biking to swimming in their pursuit to become Iron Phis. The mission of Iron Phi is to lead the fight against ALS through the fundraising and athletic efforts of its members. My trip will be a very challenging one that combines my passions of helping others, biking, and baseball; I am excited to share these passions with you through blog posts on this page, and on social media.
I've set my personal fundraising goal at $5,000. This is an ambitious goal that I’ll need a lot of help to achieve. Would you please consider making a donation to this cause? You can make a secure donation on this page by clicking on the "Make a Gift" link below the thermometer. All proceeds will support ALS research, education, screening and treatment.
Alternatively, you can mail a check made out to Iron Phi to me at my college address: Nolan Smith, 280 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla, WA, 99362. Please note that I will update the donation thermometer to reflect check donations when I am physically back in Walla Walla in mid/late August.
I hope that you'll join me in this journey to fight ALS by supporting me in my fundraising efforts!
Thank you so much in advance for your generosity. Together we can make a huge difference.
Sincerely,
Nolan
My Personal Web Log
Topics
Week One Update!
Hello to all!
It's been a long week of riding, and I have seen quite a lot! From the logging roads in rural Washington to the coastal towns in Oregon, the beauty of the Pacific Northwest impresses more and more each day.
Some interesting encounters I have had:
The two large dogs (unleashed) who chased me down and gave me a scare!
The logging trucks which have passed me with less than a foot of room!
A man dressed as a pirate in South Bend, WA, who asked me for the code of my bike lock at a grocery store (he wouldn't leave until the police drove by)
Some personal highlights:
Tillamook Cheese Tour, a self-guided tour that reminded me of all the dairy products at home in Vermont.
Sea Lion Caves, and taking an elevator down 300 feet below Highway 101 to sea-level.
Cape Lookout and Washburne State Parks. Great campgrounds featuring hiker-biker sites and all of the comforts a tired biker could ask for at the end of a long day.
The Florence 101 Hostel, including all of the people (and the amazing host) I have met so far during my rest day. Nice to spend a day out of the sun during this national heatwave.
Wishing everyone a great summer! Thank you for your support.
Nolan
by Nolan Smith on Mon, Jul 22, 2019 @ 2:30 PM
Permanent Link
1 Comment
How Does My Donation Make a Difference?
Your donation towards an Iron Phi athlete equally supports two very important things: Supporting ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) through research and support of ALS families and leadership development for undergraduate members of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
At the end of each year calendar year, the LiveLikeLou Foundation grants dollars raised through Iron Phi to fund its initiatives that support ALS research, scholarships to support the higher education goals of ALS dependents, and summer camp experiences for children who have a parent or grandparent with ALS.
Dollars used for undergraduate leadership development have and continue to help Phi Delta Theta educate more of its undergraduate members as they work to “Become the Greatest Version of Themselves.”
