Blog - Dave Browne Ride

Dave Browne Ride

by: Matt Anderson, Fleet Feet Sports

Dave Browne was a good friend of Andy Boryczka, a friend of ours who we met in our Madison store soon after we opened in 2005. For those of you who don't know Andy, he has a huge personality and can tell a story like no other.

One of his stories  was about the recent one week bike trip he had just completed with a group of friends where they averaged about 90 miles a day.  Each day was an adventure  and I asked Andy, why would you do that, it sounds like torture? Then he told me Dave's story, and I said I'm in.

Dave died very suddenly and unexpectedly of congenital heart disease which had never been detected. He was only 24 years old.

I think Dave's story hit home with me because he and I were born in the same year and his college friends reminded me of my college friends and our unique bond. Dave very easily could have been one of my good friends, and even though I never met him I feel a bond through his friends that ride in his honor.

Unfortunately, it took a few years until I could carve out the time to ride with the group, but I finally did 4 days in 2010, then a few more in 2012.  It was exhausting, but each day was another day to honor Dave.

This year's ride starts Sunday July 23rd,  and I will finally be joining Team 242 after a six-year absence - though I am only doing the last 3 days of the ride.

I'm telling this story because some people have asked what it's all about  and because I would love it if you could donate a few bucks to the ride which has raised almost $250,000 for the Heart Association over 15 years.

If you want to learn more about the ride,  donate, or follow the ride next week, visit the Team 242 website or Facebook page.

If you're curious about what team 242 stands for, well that's another story... Best told by Dave's friend Andy.