A few of you could keep in mind your dad and mom telling you to “be good” whenever you left residence to go someplace resembling faculty or church. You may even recall your grandparents saying this to your dad and mom as adults. For a lot of Individuals, “be good” was a typical parting phrase that was mentioned together with “I really like you” or “be protected.” Within the eyes of the message giver, you by no means know when the subsequent time you say it could be the final.
For Rebecca Rusch, it’s greater than a phrase, it’s a precept of her life as a result of it was handed all the way down to her by her late father, Capt. Stephen A. Rusch, who was serving in Vietnam when he was killed in motion after his airplane was shot down. When he wrote letters to residence, they might finish with that phrase. Rusch was solely three years previous on the time that her father handed away. She and her sister can be raised by their mom in a single-parent residence. She admitted it was a battle to seek out her approach throughout childhood, however she discovered that approach after becoming a member of her highschool’s cross-country staff.
“There was no athletics in my background. I used to be simply searching for one thing, and once I joined that staff, I discovered a group,” she mentioned. “I additionally discovered my physique could possibly be used as a instrument to go locations and do stuff.”
That discovery led Rusch to find a complete world, actually and figuratively. She discovered a brand new ardour and went all in on it. She dedicated extra to working in addition to biking, mountain climbing, kayaking, and extra. That mixed with motivation and curiosity led her to do extra exploring as soon as she grew up.
“I by no means envisioned it to be my profession, but it surely stored falling into place as I selected extra adventures and doing extra issues.”
Rusch would spend time working in an area well being membership, which finally led to her opening a sequence of rock-climbing gyms herself. After that, she went again to exploring once more. She wasn’t motivated by cash or making a residing, although that turned out to be what occurred. It was her ardour, motivation, and companionship she felt when concerned in health actions that fueled her. She would go on to compete in biking competitively and win seven world championships.
“It’s been an incredible journey that each one began with working in highschool.”
After fulfilling a drive to be first in competitions, she shifted her focus to new firsts resembling distinctive adventures and going to locations she had by no means been, together with in 2015 when she went to the Ho Chi Minh path that her father crashed and died at. Whereas one might really feel that may set off trauma, Rusch felt a brand new connection that impressed her.
“I knew little or no about my father’s expertise as a result of nobody talked about it,” she defined. “We went on an expedition to trip it and get a traditionally correct sense of it.”
She found loads on that journey, together with that there are nonetheless ramifications of the struggle being felt immediately. There are nonetheless unexploded units there that might trigger hurt to unintended victims. Rusch felt compelled to assist improve consciousness of this and discover a option to make a constructive change.
“I had no thought. I assumed the one a part of the struggle left was recollections, however I really feel my dad known as me there to indicate I might make a distinction.”
That trip linked her to her dad in a novel approach. She was so impressed by her expertise that she created a documentary known as “Blood Highway,” which went on to make that distinction, and it might win awards as nicely. Extra importantly, it led to a profession and life shift that may assist many individuals far past herself.
“Many individuals felt like that may’ve been closure, but it surely was truly a brand new opening for me,” she acknowledged.
Rusch took her father’s inspiration and particular message in these letters he wrote and created her personal private mission. She created the Be Good Basis as a option to “enrich communities through the use of the bicycle as a catalyst for therapeutic, empowerment, and evolution.” A part of that mission contains group bicycle rides to assist promote biking and health basically.
Rusch shared, “The bike is a global image of journey, connectivity, and mobility. Those that noticed the bike might instantly inform that I used to be on a journey.”
The brand for the inspiration is even in Mr. Rusch’s handwriting, which serves as an emblem for her to proceed working to do as he requested.
“I felt he needed me to assist clear up these unexploded ordnances on the Ho Chi Minh Path, and we additionally prolong the bike to extra folks to assist with psychological well being, bodily well being, connectivity, group, service, and getting extra children on bikes.”
That final merchandise is particularly essential to her as a result of she recalled the liberty that got here with studying to trip a motorcycle as a child. There was one thing empowering concerning the coaching wheels coming off and with the ability to trip by yourself. She needs children to really feel that very same empowerment immediately.
“There was a way of freedom, you then go hang around with your folks and go on adventures. I don’t need us to lose that as adults.”
As for Rusch’s sister, she discovered her personal path by medication and the USA Air Drive. Main Basic Sharon Bannister discovered the connection to their father by service, which additionally helped her forge her path to a profession in dentistry. The sisters are actually coming again collectively, and they’re working collectively on sharing the inspiration they obtained from their father. Sharon serves on the Board for the Be Good Basis.
“It’s actually superior,” Rusch mentioned proudly. The sisters are clearly keen about serving to others enhance themselves, discover methods to assist others, and make a distinction, however most significantly, she hopes that the folks she reaches will observe her general message a mission.
“Be good.”
For extra info on the Be Good Basis, go to TheBeGoodFoundation.org. You’ll be able to see extra and #JointheRusch at RebeccaRusch.com .