Ryan Gibson has never met Karina Juarez, 18, of Oklahoma City but that won’t stop him from raising money on her behalf Wednesday when he will ride a stationary bicycle for 24 hours straight at Muscles In Motion gym.
Juarez is being treated for kidney failure and needs an organ transplant to survive. Gibson, who himself suffered from kidney disease when he was younger, decided the time was right to help someone else.
He is a runner who is particularly interested in long-distance endurance, health and fitness. He has been inspired by Dean Karnazes, who last year completed 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, His book, “Ultramarathon Man,” was the No. 7 bestselling sports book worldwide in 2005.
“I learned from him that the human body has limitations, but the human spirit doesn’t,” Gibson said.
He pedaled for 12 straight hours a few weeks ago to see if his goal might be attainable.
“I couldn’t walk afterwards, but I went jogging the next night,” he said.
Juarez said she started losing weight about three years ago and also noticed she was bruising easily. Doctors administered a series of tests and found her kidneys were working at 25 percent of capacity. She is on at-home dialysis and is trying to get on a kidney transplant list.
“The doctor said the transplant will cost at least $100,000,” she said. “We are working on it.”
The recent high school graduate said her mother has raised a portion of the money by selling Mexican food to some of the city’s weekend soccer players. She and her mother hope to arrange a trip to Ardmore on Wednesday to meet Gibson.
He has set up an account at Citizens National Bank and Trust called “Cycle for Life” for those who would like to donate money to help with Juarez’s transplant costs and will be accepting donations at the gym.
“I feel like I’m supposed to be doing something like this,” he said. “It is one way to serve by using my talents.”
Steve Biehn, 221-6546
21-6546
