Sometimes in life, an event occurs that is so profound it can bring about a sense of personal strength and courage that you didn’t even know you possessed. It might lead you toward trying something you never even imagined you would be capable of accomplishing. Ralf Jarchow, a lawyer from Brampton, Ontario, exemplifies how a life-changing event can be the inspirational spark for reaching far beyond the norm in order to help others.
In support of the Boston Foundation for Sight, Ralf decided to embark on a solo bike ride across Canada to raise funds and awareness in honor of two BFS patients: Megan, his daughter, and Jesse, a 6-year-old boy from Ghana. On Sunday, July 3, 2011, Ralf hopped on a plane bound for Calgary with his partially disassembled bike packed in a box and started off on his journey of a lifetime. It would prove to be a true test of his endurance, will, and mental stamina.
Ralf’s story actually begins more than 10 years ago when his daughter, Megan, was diagnosed with Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid (OCP), a rare, chronic autoimmune blistering disease that predominantly affects the mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva and the skin. Over 70% of patients with OCP have ocular involvement that can lead to decreased vision and blindness. Megan’s course of treatment eventually led her to BFS for PROSE fitting. She experienced nearly instant relief with PROSE as well as improved vision and continues to successfully wear the devices. During the fitting process at BFS, Ralf met a young boy and his mother who had traveled all the way from Ghana for treatment at BFS. This 6-year-old boy, Jesse, had experienced corneal damage from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and was being fitted for PROSE as well. Ralf was incredibly impressed by the lengths that the caring medical staff went to in order to treat both this young boy from Ghana and his daughter. Ralf said, “I felt it was a marvelous organization and if I could do anything to help others, I would.” His experience with long-distance cycling and marathon running led him to set a personal challenge of riding across Canada in support of BFS.
Ralf Jarchow’s 21-day journey began in Calgary in Alberta and finished in his hometown of Brampton. He rode 8-10 hours a day, averaging about 125 miles each day. For the first two weeks, he traveled alone without a support vehicle and was later joined by his wife, Valerie, to provide assistance. Throughout the ride, he encountered challenging hills, flat plains with strong headwinds, intense and unrelenting heat and sun, severe thunderstorms, and lots and lots of flat tires. He persevered to the end, always keeping his goal in sight.
On Saturday, July 23, Ralf biked triumphantly into his hometown with a fire engine leading the way, supporters lining the streets, and a police car escorting him with flashers and sirens to celebrate his tremendous accomplishment. After 21 days on his bike, 2,112 miles under his tires, and 12 pounds less on his waistline, Ralf crossed his personal finish line and completed the challenge he set out to do: raise both money ($19,000 in total) and awareness for the Boston Foundation for Sight by biking across Canada. It’s amazing what one event can spur a person to accomplish.