The Good Life – July-August 2021

LOCAL HERO | ANDREW NATHAN
Learn more about Nathan’s ride across North Dakota:
https://app.donorview.com/R9YeR
Nathan and Pizarro decided to
fundraise for PAD through a bike ride
across North Dakota. Adrenaline
junkie Nathan trained for the three
day ride for a year with a goal of
raising $50,000. The inaugural
ride was August 7-9, 2020. Nathan
biked while Pizarro provided
support along the route. Nathan’s
son, Jerod, also biked intermittently
and provided coaching, water, and
nutrition.
While the original plan was to bike
along Old Highway 10, between the
stretches of unpaved and nonexistent
road, Nathan and Pizarro adjusted
their plan to make I-94 their primary
route.
“The last 25 miles was a downpour
and tornado warning; it was looking
like I’d have to end the ride and
not accomplish the mission. I was
getting a lot of road rash and was
ripped up pretty bad. I ended up
getting a flat tire and had to use
my son’s tire to finish. I was in an
incredible amount of pain, soaking
wet, tired, and hungry,” said Nathan.
34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
It was all worth it when the final
tally came in at nearly $30,000
raised to support PAD. “I’m doing it
for the idea that dogs help Veterans
with their Traumatic Brain Injury,
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,
general adjustments, getting into
the civilian world, being a healthy
individual, and repairing their lives.
I’ve seen how much these dogs help
Veterans,” said Nathan.
This year’s ride is August 13-14,
2021—two days to bike roughly 370
miles for a goal of raising $75,000.
Anyone is welcome to bike alongside
Nathan by joining at I-94 exits, but
he’s especially hoping for more
bikers on the last 22 miles from
Casselton to Fargo. In Casselton,
there is a planned stop at the
Memorial Bridge. Those 22 miles
honor the 22 service members
who die by suicide each day (US
Department of Veteran Affairs).
“If I can get a bunch of Boy Scouts
that ride with me to the end that
would be great. Boy Scouts earn a
merit badge for biking different mile
levels. I have high expectations for
this year and am hoping to get more
people involved,” said Nathan.
Nathan’s service would be empty
without the consistent backing his
wife, Fara, and son, Jerod, offer. “My
wife is a saint. She’s been through
two deployments where I haven’t
been around and has put up with a
very crazy schedule with me being in
the military. She supports me 100%.
I wouldn’t be able to do what I do if I
didn’t have my family and community
behind me,” said Nathan.
The Good Life
Nathan’s outlook is heavily informed
by his faith.
“The good life is being at peace with
God and your fellow man. What
are you doing to glorify God and
help your fellow man? Especially
in today’s world — everything’s so
polarized. I’m not perfect at it, but
I have a strong belief and purpose.
I know that Jesus is Lord. Also, I
enjoy a good single malt scotch,”
said Nathan. •