CHARLES CITY, IA- RAGBRAI is full of different teams of cyclists making their way through the state, but there's a name out there, many will recognize.
Kevin Tiffin is from California and is riding his first RAGBRAI with team LIVESTRONG.
And like most of the cyclists in this group, he's been touched by cancer.
Tiffin said, "there's not a day that goes by that you don't shed a tear, got great friends, met a lot of people from LIVESTRONG foundation and people from Iowa are awesome!"
He's still dealing with losing his father to cancer. That's why he thought of joining this team.
They raise money, then ride through the state sharing their stories and spreading the word about the LIVESTRONG foundation.
Team LIVESTRONG Manager Colleen Legge said, "it's to give people a week where they can come and lay their cancer experience on the line, they can grieve with people, celebrate with people, they can talk about survivorship."
There are more than 100 members on this team, and they each raise at least 15-hundred dollars before the ride.
It all goes to inspiring and empowering those impacted by the disease. You see the words on the bracelets and hear about it through RAGBRAI, but the word LIVESTRONG means something different to everyone."
For some, it's sharing their story, for Kevin, it's more personal.
"my dad-I miss him...he makes me ride."
It's that LIVESTRONG spirit bringing this group together and inspiring them to ride with purpose.
Tiffin said, "its been grueling its been very satisfying, i'll definitely come back and do it, my heart is captured."
RAGBRAI's team LIVESTRONG is celebrating this week. Over the last four years, they have passed the million dollar mark in donations to the foundation.
