Baxley, Liz and I met Colin at Saint Luke's Presby Hospital in Denver a couple weeks ago. An outgoing teenager, Colin was a cyclist before he was diagnosed with cancer. Forced to give up athletics while in treatments, he cannot wait to get back on the road.

And who should we bump into in a small town in Montana, purely by chance, but this great kid. A handful of us had gone in search of an internet cafe after a day of riding. Paul recognized our friend Colin first, and Colin immediately recognized our tshirt logos. As it happened, he and his mom (by his side) were headed for Big Sky, MT, for an annual camp for cancer patient youth. I asked him if there was any way we could talk with the camp director. "Oh, she's right around the block. All of us campers are about to load onto the bus for Big Sky." The four of us T4Kers ambled to said location, stepped up onto a large Greyhound, and smiling back at us were eighteen seated kids, ages 7 to 15, and a few adults scattered throughout.

Colin handed me the bus driver's handheld PA microphone, and I talked for a few minutes about Texas 4000 with emphasis on how "YOU guys are the ones we're riding for. We're so proud of y'all." I relayed my personal story of having been afflicted with childhood/infancy cancer, told them about my prosthesis, and assured them that the event hasn't stopped me from anything - even cycling a few thousand miles.

When we returned to our host church for the evening, I couldn't calm down from the seeming fatefulness of the visit. For any nonbelievers in serendipity, it's the closest to proof I can find for you: that we should twice run across an inspirational person - weeks apart and in separate states - and that we should follow him just a few yards to meet more of the young people for whom we ride so dedicatedly.

That moment last night made my summer. It's all worth it.

Important sidenote: Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the care package. I can never have enough socks, Oreos, yogurt-covered raisins, or Aloe vera. I love you both and miss you much. I'm considering flying home instead of the road trip from Anchorage, for time's sake. Perhaps I could fly into D/FW and spend a few days with y'all in Carrollton. We can talk about it on the phone soon. Y'all are the greatest parents a child could ask for! Thinking of you often...