Josh McNeilly

Josh is one of the last additions to the 2009 R:WT, and we’ll take him! Josh is an outdoors enthusiast and

art maven who hopes the R:WT will bring a little piece of “heaven to earth” through love and sacrifice.

“My heart for this tour is that we would change first ourselves into people who are willing to do anything for

the poor, for the oppressed, and then that others would catch our love and it would spread, and that love

would result in generous giving, and in immediate action, and in radical change.” –Josh McNeilly

Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO

School: Colorado Christian University

Reading: The Cost of Discipleship

Favorite eats: Italian

Special talent Photography

When not in Ohio Surfing

R:WT in one word: Intenselyworthwhile

Lisa Ralph

With snow blanketing where Lisa lives, “between blueberry fields

and the Atlantic,” this biology major likely will spend more miles on

a stationery bike than her other R:WT cohorts, but she takes a light-hearted approach to training.

Graduating this Spring, Ride:Well will be Lisa’s post-grad “tour-de-l’amor”— i.e. “tour of Love.”

“I want to live dangerously. I want to live a well-lived life.” –Lisa Ralph

ometown: Graymont, IL

School: University of Maine at Machias

Currently reading: Jesus for President, Samson and the Pirate Monks, What Now, Last Child in the Woods,

Into the Wild, The Imitation of Christ, A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates, Bike for Life

Hometown: Graymont, IL

School: University of Maine at Machias

Reading: Jesus for President, Samson and the Pirate Monks, What

Now, Last Child in the Woods, Into the Wild, The Imitation

of Christ, A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates,

Bike for Life

Favorite eats: Steak

Special talent: Making things

Likes: Small towns

R:WT in one word: Love

Anthony Catalano

R:WT helps Anthony connect his desire to ride across the

country with his heart to help others. A USC classics and

biology double major with a big heart for adventure, Anthony

brings collegiate cycling experience to the R:WT. Once his

ankle heals from a very untimely basketball tweak, Anthony is

going to assault the grades of the Sierra Nevadas to return to

top form.

“I have a huge heart for Africa, and I am so excited to be able to pour into people and change lives through

the summer.” –Anthony Catalano

Hometown: Clovis, CA

School: University of Southern California

Reading: Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach

Favorite eats: Anything that comes out of Grandma Catalano’s

Kitchen

Training music: Worship music and sermons a lot of the time, but

also the greatness that is the "Awesome Songs

Playlist" featuring the likes of Enrique, the

Backstreet Boys, and Kelly Clarkson

Fav time to ride: Afternoon

R:WT in one word: Ridiculous

Lisa Rudzik

Lisa came to us well-recommended by an ’08

rider, and after interviewing the Tallahassee

native, right away we knew she would be

R:WT material— adaptable, enduring and

adventurous. Lisa was with us in ’08 for the

R:WT Nashville City Ride, and she’s got

triathlon experience as well.

"There are only a couple times that I can recall

seeing rapid growth happen in my life, and I

know without a doubt this will be another one

of those times. I couldn't be more excited." -Lisa

Rudzik

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL

School: Florida State University

Reading: The Shack

Favorite eats: Anything Italian

Favorite ride 32-mile loop- St. Mark’s Trail

Off the bike Lunch at Moe’s with friends

R:WT in one word: Intense

Erin Morris

A recent graduate of Union University, Erin is making an

“easy” transition to post-college life with a 3179-mile bicycle

tour. Since coming aboard, Erin’s passion for Ride:Well has

been contagious. Just ask R:WT cyclist and friend Bethany

Stallings, who joined the team not long after Erin did. Go Team

Union!

“I hope to learn how love and pain and life go together.” -Erin

Morris

Hometown: Nashville, TN

School: Union University

Reading: Textbooks

Favorite eats: Sushi, apple pie, ice cream, art

Special talent: Ice skating

Fav time to ride: Afternoon

R:WT in one word: Exciting

Jacob Childerson

Jacob is another “northern son” of Ride:Well. Originally

from Illinois, Jacob spent the “gap year” after high school

in Honduras working with Mercy International. Now, he's

majoring in international business and Spanish at

Southern Illiniois University-Edwardsville.

“I know that I'm going to have to push myself in ways I

never have before and I can't wait to see the outcome.” –

Jacob Childerson

Hometown: Altamont, IL

School: Southern Illinois University—Edwardsville

Reading: The Last Lecture

Favorite eats: Chili-cheese dogs, soups and salads

Special talent: Spanish

Pets: Geckos

R:WT in one word: Inspiring

Cody Henderson

Cody is a bit outgoing. Really outgoing, in fact, and that’s good, because R:WT will be connecting with a

multitude of people from small towns and big cities and everywhere in between. Cody says he misses his

own small town upbringing and hopes R:WT will satisfy his unending curiosity and passion.

“We Americans have such a lax outlook on living, that troubles facing anyone outside of the states are often

ignored when we have a tremendous ability and responsibility as a global social community to help when

and where we can.” –Cody Henderson

Hometown: Richland, MO

School: Evangel University

Reading: The Field

Favorite eats: Pizza, Mexican, Chinese

Recent adventure: Hawaii

Special talent: Growing an afro

R:WT in one word: Inspiring

Erik Pelttari

Erik is a trip leader who will focus on day-to-day

operations and heading up the “guy time”. As long as Erik

is in the United States, we’ll use him! Erik has lived in

Istanbul, Turkey, and hopes to return there someday. He

teaches math at a high school in Huntley, IL. On this trip,

he wants to visit small towns, see the countryside and “get

a feel for the size of the continent.”

“The things about cycling I am looking forward to are seeing the country side and trying to get a feel for the

size of a continent.” –Erik Pelttari

Hometown: Many Midwestern towns

School: North Central University

Reading: How to Prove It, The Absolutely Tru

Favorite eats: Italian, American, Turkish, sweet curries

Likes: Math

Seven years since: Erik owned a bike, and the tire popped.

R:WT in one word: Indefinable

Brady Miles

A math teacher from Waxahachie, Tex., Brady looks to be an excellent ambassador for the Dallas area and

R:WT’s large event there. The R:WT will reunite Cody and Brady—both members of Evangel University’s

Class of ’08—and two of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

“I want this experience to help deepen my faith, be content with my circumstances, discover my future, build

perseverance, and to build a selfless love for people.” –Brady Miles

Hometown: Waxahachie, TX

School: Evangel University

Reading: Fahrenheit 451

Favorite eats: “Anything my mom cooks”

Special talent Slacking on a

Likes: Finding new challenges

R:WT in one word: Epic

Deb Go

Deb is a sophomore civil engineering student at

CalPoly and a fan of triathlons. Ride:Well will push to

the limit her passion for bringing clean water and

HIV/AIDS relief to Africa. One of two Californians on

the team, she’ll be training for the ride in the rolling

hills and canyons of San Luis Obispo and California’s

Central Coast.

“I definitely have a passion for bringing clean water to

and fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa, I love God, and I love to work out, so I'm super excited to have all three of

these collide in one amazing summer.” –Deb Go

Hometown: Lake Forest, CA

School: Cal Poly- San Luis Obispo

Reading: Searching for God Knows What

Favorite eats: Chinese

Off the bike: Basketball

Trains with: The Calypoly Triathlon Team

R:WT in one word: Crazy

Bethany Stallings

“Grassroots organizations are really important to me,” says Bethany, who met us through fellow Union

classmate Erin Morris, who also is riding this summer. Having lived overseas for much of her life,

Bethany gained from her time abroad an international viewpoint and several languages—beginning with

the Phillipine dialects of Tagalog, Cebuano and Ilongo. She also speaks Spanish and, from residence in

Seoul, a little Korean. Now, she’s taking French, and later she’ll study Arabic in Amman, Jordan. If you

speak anything else than what’s listed, she’d probably be happy to try!

“This summer is a time to meet people here in the U.S., get the word out, and play a role in affecting the lives

of people from the continent of Africa.” –Bethany Stallings

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

School: Union University

Reading: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the Language Instinct, Pillar of Salt, Everyday Theology

Favorite eats: Asian & anything with cilantro

Not-so-secret passion: Collecting leaves

Trains with: Fellow ’09 R:WT teammate Erin Morris

R:WT in one word: Challenge

Brian Elliott

Brian is a graduate nutrition student from SFASU in Nacogdoches, Tex. With a strong commitment to

fitness, a growing love for Africa and goal to run a marathon a month this Spring, Brian probably is more

like the R:WT than either of us would ever admit. He’s quite eloquent when discussing his aims and

hopes for the R:WT, so if you can catch him, he's all yours.

“People say I have more miles on my legs than on my car.” –Brian Elliott

Hometown: Hurst, TX

School: Stephen F. Austin State University

Reading: Love and Respect, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, The Five Love Languages of God, The Bible

Favorite eats: Any authentic ethnic food, sushi, raw, or vegan cuisine. And definitely smoothies!

Alter ego: Batman (but only when running certain marathons this Spring)

Get a wrench: Because Brian can ride a bike with no handlebars

R:WT in one word: Blessing

Seth Willard

Seth comes from the quiet, rural places north of the Twin Cities and calls Alexandria home. For Seth, the

Ride:Well Tour is about doing “something more” this summer, and if it benefits others, Seth believes he

has no reason to “shy away”. Seth is new to road biking and is persevering through the kind of backroads

and stationery training that makes the mind tough and the body able.

“Cycling forces me to get fresh air, and with that comes a renewed perspective. When I consider my problems

while pedaling on the open road, suddenly all my stress points become far less intimidating.” –Seth Willard

Hometown: Alexandria, MN

School: Regent University Distance Education

Reading: Ethel Herr's An Introduction to Christian Writing, Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, Rick Warren's A Purpose Driven Life, and Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Favorite eats: Mexican

Side gig: Writing a motivational book with his brother for young people (19-21)

Pets: A flock of hens

R:WT in one word: Exhilarating

Jen Tyler

A member of last year’s support staff, Jen has already earned a R:WT jersey. Yet, this year, she’ll be joining

the team as a cyclist. Like many of our riders, Jen is fluent in the language of social movements. She

studies theology at Garrett Seminary in Chicago, IL. We welcome Jen as a former team member as she

learns a new way to contribute to our cause.

“I have done a lot of crazy things in my life, but this is the first time I’ve paired my passion and energy with a

physical challenge. This is going to be huge, as I know that it isn’t something I can do on my own.” –Jen Tyler

Hometown: McCook Lake, SD

School: Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary

Reading: Textbooks

Favorite eats: Hummus, falafel

Workout mix: Anything upbeat to keep me going. I recently rediscovered (and love!) the old 90s Jock Jams!

Likes: Finding new challenges

R:WT in one word: Epic

Aaron Smith

Aaron is the go-to guy for all things Ride:Well. He serves as director and co-founder of Venture

Expeditions, and he has organized and promoted the R:WT for the past two summers. A lover of outdoor

pursuits, travel and bicycling, Aaron’s passion first found its lodging place in 2002, when he and a few

college buddies completed a cross-country bicycle tour that began in Washington and ended in New York.

Since the first big trip, Venture has guided young adventurers through 17,000 miles of international

travel on foot, bicycle and canoe, with humanitarian aid providing the thrust for motion.

Hometown: Green Bay, WI

School: North Central University

Reading: The Internet, The Bible

Favorite eats: Thai Unofficial title: The Ironman

Likes: His wife and daughter

R:WT in one word: Sacrifice

Drew Nelson

Drew is a veteran of Venture trips and a 2nd year Ride:Well Tour leader. This year, we’ve tapped him to

lead the entire Tour, from start to finish. He’s got “megatrip” experience to spare, good leadership know-

how and considerable cycling acumen. Plus, he’s not afraid of public speaking. Perfect.

“I consider it a beautiful day, when I ride my bike, drink coffee, and hang out with wonderful people!” –Drew

Nelson

Hometown: Eau Claire, WI

School: North Central University

Reading: Death by Love

Favorite eats: Hamburger steak Unofficial title: Original gangster

Likes: Venture Expeditions

R:WT in one word: Lifechanging