If I had the opportunity to cross the finish line again after the 100-mile run, I would have said so much more. I was tired, and mentally barely keeping it together. Honestly the whole experience was emotionally overwhelming to say the least.

I would have said thank you to everyone who donated to the cause big or small … whether it be Hormel for sponsorship, the $5,000 anonymous donor, the kids who sent me envelopes of change, the businesses who bought corporate sponsorships, the pacers for their time, the Millers for their motor home and positivity, the many volunteers at fundraisers, and to the 100s who bought shirts to help support the run.

I would have said a special thanks to Pastor Aaron Broberg for essentially commandeering the entire event behind the scenes and to his family for all the time he devoted to it. I would have said thank you to my wife and kids who stood by me the entire time and never once expressed any doubt in me! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart and I know the 130,000-plus kids who are getting hot meals because each of you helped see the value in such a wonderful cause as Convoy of Hope thank you as well. I would have thanked the Austin Daily Herald for the great articles and Cornerstone Church for having my back when the rest of the world thought I was crazy.

I would have talked about the sheer joy and elation that flowed through me and still does a month and a half later when I think about how great the community of Austin was at banding together. Community is what binds us and makes us strong. Community is what drives us to support each other and allow one another to flourish and grow. In the end it does not matter how much money one has or how many diplomas one has achieved, instead, what matters is whether we support one another and give food when others are hungry and clothes when others are bare. I would have said that I am a reflection of this community and what we have done here today and these past many months together is cast out stones into the pond of life that have made many ripples along the way. I hope as these ripples reach others they too would do their part to make waves and continue to pay it forward in their own way.

Last but not least, I would have said a quick prayer thanking God for the strength and the guidance to make what appears to be an insurmountable task be just another day with great friends in a great community because we all made it happen together!

Kelly Nesvold,

Austin