Siouxland Miracle Riders: A Journey to Alaska for a Cause

This summer, the Siouxland Miracle Riders completed their 9th Annual Ride for Miracles, their most ambitious ride yet—a 6,000-mile journey to Alaska from July 27th to August 10th. The trip took them through the breathtaking Canadian Rockies, the Yukon Territory, and into Skagway, Alaska, before heading back through Vancouver and several U.S. states.

All donations directly support the Children's Miracle Network, helping Siouxland children in their fight against illness, as the riders cover all their own travel expenses. The riders raised $50,000 this year to create a Pediatric Safe Room for UnityPoint Health St. Luke’s.

The Siouxland Miracle Riders kept us updated throughout their journey, and we had the opportunity to interview Jim Mayne, who is not only a Siouxland Miracle Rider but also a former supervisor at STF! Jim told us about his experiences and the inspiration behind this journey.

What inspired the Siouxland Miracle Riders to focus on raising funds for a Pediatric Safe Room this year?

Each year, CMN gives us a project or equipment wishlist to choose from. The riders then discuss and vote on what we will be riding for. Since our ride usually generates around $50,000 per year, we try to pick a project or a piece(s) of equipment that is projected to be near that dollar amount. And since children's mental health awareness has increased, we all agreed that this was an extremely worthwhile project.

During your rides, the team distributes toys to children. Approximately how many toys did you hand out this year, and what impact did it have on the kids?

This year we handed out approximately 150 "poppers". These are simple toys that are spun and dropped and jump back up up 3-4 feet in the air. Most kids love them, and parents are usually excited that we've helped entertain their kids for a few minutes. Most of the time, the families are on vacation and are open to having some fun. One of the rookies also carries around our mascot "Bert", the dinosaur. Bert helps to act as an ice breaker to people wondering why a group of men in motorcycle attire are carrying around a stuffed animal. In the past, we have handed out stuffed teddy bears. We also have business cards with a QR link to our website and Facebook page that we hand out to parents and other adults.

What was the standout moment of this year's ride for you personally?

The moment that we rode into Skagway, Alaska was almost surreal. The fact that we had just ridden 3000 miles to essentially eat lunch and turn around and head home was not lost on us. Also, the number of days that we were surrounded by beauty surprised me. Around every bend and over every hill were more amazing views. Canada and the Pacific Northwest are just amazing.

How do you and the other riders prepare, both physically and mentally, for such a long and challenging journey each year?

I can't speak for the other riders, but I just make sure that my bike is as prepared as possible, and that I've done everything possible to ensure success. Our struggles develop our strengths, and confidence combined with a good attitude goes a long way.

Looking ahead, are there any specific goals or projects the Miracle Riders are aiming to support in the future?

As previously mentioned, each year CMN assesses their wants/needs and we will choose a project based on collective decision by the group.