Helping a friend on his way

Kelly Nesvold walked into the back of Rydjor Bike Shop Wednesday evening thinking it was going to be a quick stop for friend Kirk Kuchera until he saw the group of about 20 hiding toward the front.

In that moment, Nesvold knew something was up.

A group of supporters for his 300M4Freedom run, which is raising money to bring awareness to human trafficking, surrounded a brand new Trek Domane 4.3 road race bike for Nesvold.

“I don’t know what to say,” Nesvold said as the realization set in.

The bike, which retails for around $2,299, was purchased for around $1,700 thanks to an all around effort by friends getting behind Nesvold and his daunting triathlon of 300 miles.

The effort began, not surprisingly, on a training run with Rydjor store manager Jens Raffelson. The bike Nesvold was using was given to him by some friends he was helping move and had been used a lot. It was simply wearing down.

“I asked if he wanted to sell it and he said, ‘Go ahead and keep it,’” Nesvold said.

When Kuchera heard about it, he began putting together a mini fundraiser among friends and those who would take part in various parts of the triathlon with him. That way, they’d let Nesvold continue his goal of using 100 percent of the donations he raises to go toward human trafficking awareness.

“I thought, ‘This can’t happen,’” Kuchera said. “This guy is doing all this work for other people.”

As the money was being raised, Raffelson went to Rydjor owner Pat Geraghty, who agreed to sell the bike at a good deal.

“They gave us a nice bike,” Kuchera said.

The bike is made of carbon fiber making for a lighter bike. The frame is based on something called endurance geometry, which will allow Nesvold to sit a little higher and more upright.

Raffelson said getting the bike for Nesvold was more than just helping him toward his goal. It was about practicality of training.

“He needed a bike that fit him correctly,” he said. “And you need to get those miles in before something like this.”

“This was just a great thing for this cause,” he added. “He’s been getting tons of donations and it’s just a great thing for [supporters] to do.”

For Nesvold, it was hard to even put this into words.

“I’m speechless, man,” he said. “I had no concept that this was happening.”

This was just another sign that Nesvold’s journey was worth the work, sweat and effort.

“I had a couple injuries the last couple weeks and it’s easy to get down,” he said. “Something like this is a huge blessing. There’s no excuse not to finish.”

Nesvold is training for 300-mile triathlon he aims to complete this August. He plans to swim five miles across Pokegama Lake in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, then he will bike 240 miles toward the Twin Cities before he finishes with a 55-mile run that ends in St. Paul. He’s dubbed the project 300M4FREEDOM.

Nesvold aims to raise $50,000 to go to Mission 21 and Out of Ashes to fight human trafficking.

In 2014, Nesvold ran 100 miles from St. Paul to Austin to raise $25,000 to buy 100,000 meals to fight hunger through 100M4HUNGER

300M4FREEDOM plans concert, dart tournament

Kelly Nesvold and other volunteers behind his 300M4FREEDOM drive to raise $50,000 to fight human trafficking are about to rock and dart toward more money.

300M4FREEDOM and volunteers will host a dart tournament and concert in early May.

The concert will be at 7 p.m. on May 6 at the Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center. The show will feature Chris Hawkey, who is on the Morning show for KFAN, and openers Jamie & Cody, two members of the local band Seeds who will play an acoustic set.

Tickets are $10 in advance at the Holiday Inn, Wellness 1st Chiropractic and Hy-Vee. Tickets are $11 online at www.300m4freedom.com, and they will be $15 at the door the day of the show. The show is for age 21 and older.

The event will also feature a live and silent auctions. Items will include: a KFAN Experience, an Jason Zucker autographed Minnesota Wild Jersey, Minnesota Wild tickets, custom made metal fire rings, a hot air balloon ride, and many gift baskets and gift certificates.

Then on May 7, the Austin Jaycees will host a dart tournament at the Austin Veterans of Foreign War Club to help Nesvold’s cause. Signup is at 2 p.m. and the tournament will start at 3 p.m.

All money raised at the two events will go to 300M4FREEDOM, which will give the money to Mission 21 and Out of Ashes to fight human trafficking.

For more, checkout www.facebook.com/Insanity4Humanity.