Pedalling to my mid-life crisis
By John Mohan

Not to belabour the point, but I just had a landmark birthday the week before last. I mention it again because 50 is a landmark year where people typically take stock of their lives: what they're thankful for, what they wish they could do differently, and what they'd like to still achieve.

I have much to be thankful for. A beautiful wife (29 years married), three grown children, a son-in-law, a grandson I'm extremely proud of. And a fulfilling career as CEO of Siloam Mission. I'm blessed and having more fun than I deserve.

However, like many men in my stage of life, I have an inner urge to deny the realities of my age. There's a need to prove to myself that I'm not really that old.

Years ago when I looked toward turning 50, I envisioned masking grey hair or a balding head. Maybe wearing open shirts with big chains around my neck. And definitely owning a Corvette. Now that I'm there, those things seem unnecessary, so I've chosen a different way to have a mid-life crisis. One that is part of a legacy I will leave my children and grandchildren. One that enlarges my contribution to humanity. One that will benefit others.

Last Friday, I, along with Mr. David Dyck of Niverville (because there may be more than one David Dyck in Niverville, he's the one who just sold the autobody shop) began a 1,300-kilometre cycling trek from Calgary to Winnipeg with a goal of raising $100,000 to support four key programs of Siloam Mission.

Though $100,000 is a lot of money, Manitobans are generous people. If we reach our goal, it will enable Siloam Mission to operate the health centre for the next eight months. Or provide trainee wages for eight hard-to-employ people for the next year. Or provide more than 38,000 meals for the poor and homeless. Or operate the emergency shelter for two months, which provides a clean, safe bed for up to 115 homeless people each night.

The question can be asked: "Why do something so challenging?"

There are several reasons: First, to prove to my wife that I still have youth and vitality (in case she still wants to have more children). Second, by my example, to demonstrate to younger generations that extreme causes (like homelessness) are worth extreme effort. Third, to give people a fresh opportunity to join me in making our community better by improving the quality of life for our own less fortunate.

Rain, headwinds and hills have already created moments when I wished I'd thought of something easier. But as hard as cycling across the prairies is, it's not as hard being taken from your family to be raised and abused in a residential school. It's not as hard as being a single parent trying to feed and shelter your family on social assistance or minimum wage. It's not as hard as being mentally challenged and trying to survive on our streets. It's not as hard as realizing one day you have nowhere to call home and don't know where or how to find help. My quest is hard, but those things are even harder.

I hope you'll support My Mid-Life Crisis Bikeathon for the Homeless. Visit Siloam's website (siloam.ca) or call 956-4344 to help do something great for our community. God willing and my legs holding, I'll be home on Monday.

Originally printed in the Winnipeg Sun, Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
Reprinted with the permission of Sun Media Corporation.