Memory of her dad driving Battle Creek's Jaeger as she readies for the ride of her life
In recent years, June has been a tough month for Nicole Jaeger. It was the month her father passed away and with Father's Day in the mix, Marshall Jaeger's daughter experiences some rough days during this time of the year.
But this June has been a bit better for Jaeger because she has spent it making final preparations for was she is calling a 'Ride for Poppy' - biking 2,200 miles across the country to raise money and awareness in honor of her dad, who died of throat cancer in 2010.
"It was June when we laid him to rest, the memories always make June tough for me," Jaeger said. "But this June has been different because I feel good that I'm doing this in his honor. I feel inspired by him and I am doing this in his memory and what I'm doing is going to help such a great cause."
The Battle Creek native will start on July 1 on a cross-country trek from California to her hometown as a fundraiser for the Marshall W. Jaeger Head and Neck Cancer Research Fund at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center.
Jaeger, who now lives in San Diego, is hoping for some support from the Cereal City as the 1990 Lakeview High graduate has created a website where people can contribute to the fundraiser online at https://victors.us/rideforpoppy. An anonymous donor had already offered to match whatever comes in up to $25,000. She has an overall goal of $50,000 and she is more than halfway there.
With the trip coming ever closer, Jaeger has had time to contemplate what she is in for.
"I have had mixed emotions as we get closer," Jaeger said. "I don't think I would call it being nervous, but I might be nervous at some point in the final days, how can you not be. More than anything, I would say I am grateful I am able to do this and I'll be riding almost 2,500 miles for the greater good."
The last leg of Jaeger's journey will start in Battle Creek near the end of July. She does not yet know when that will be for sure, but she is hoping to be in her hometown for her 50th birthday on July 29. She will be rolling in with supporters there to meet her, with plans for a possible police escort, and a fundraising event that day to help with the effort. And when she leaves for the final leg to Ann Arbor, she is expecting a local group of cyclists to join her.
Her local support group is excited to see her.
"This is such a great thing. It is a great way for Nicole to honor her father," said Mike Wood, the former CEO and founder of Mike's Team Active Bikes, who is expected to be among the group that will be going to Ann Arbor with her. "It will be exciting to see her ride into town. Then our own little group will have our own mini adventure and ride the 100 miles to Ann Arbor with her, which seems like a lot. But then we figure, that's just a Tuesday for Nicole, so we figure we can handle at least that."
For more information or to help support the Marshall W. Jaeger Head and Neck Cancer Research Fund, contact Nicole Jaeger at nkjaeger@gmail.com
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Memory of her dad drives BC's Jaeger as she readies for ride of her life
