Bike trip to promote kidney disease awareness hits snags

Bike trip to promote kidney disease awareness hits snags

By Greg Jaklewicz
Friday, May 29, 2009

Shad Ireland's two-wheeled trek across the country brought him through Abilene and, unexpectedly, in need of a new set of wheels and a windshield.

Ireland is cycling from San Pedro, Calif., (near Los Angeles) to Washington, D.C., to promote awareness of chronic kidney disease. Three times a week, he jumps off his Cervelo bike for dialysis. Though he passed through Abilene and pedalled Thursday to within 63 miles of Fort Worth, he returned to Abilene to spend the night at a local campground. Someone lightened his load by taking a set of bicycle wheels.

And on the way east from Big Spring, the windshield of the Toyota Prius that is part of his support team was cracked by a rock.

Ireland, a Minnesotan who turned 37 on Wednesday, spent Friday afternoon in search of "high end" wheels for his bike and a windshield. He found the wheels but will have to wait until he gets to Arlington to get the right windshield for the car.

"I was wondering what else could go wrong," Ireland said. Still, his down attitude quickly bounced back because a large part of what he's doing is encouraging dialysis patients to exercise to regain their strength and to maintain a positive attitude.

Ireland, who has completed 18 triathlons -- including Hawaii's Ironman -- after doctors told him that accomplishment would be impossible, said he has financial support to replace the wheels and the windshields.

"I'm good," he said.

His route winds through the Southwest, Deep South and southeastern U.S., where, he said, kidney ailments are disproportionate to the rest of the country. His own kidneys failed when he was 10.

Ireland's plan is to complete his more than 4,000-mile ride July 30 in Washington.

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/may/29/bike-trip-to-promote-kidney-disease-awareness/?printer=1/