A few of chances are you’ll bear in mind your mother and father telling you to “be good” whenever you left residence to go someplace similar to college or church. You may even recall your grandparents saying this to your mother and father as adults. For a lot of Individuals, “be good” was a typical parting phrase that was stated 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 aircraft was shot down. When he wrote letters to residence, they might finish with that phrase. Rusch was solely three years outdated on the time that her father handed away.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 search out her method throughout childhood, however she discovered that method after becoming a member of her highschool’s cross-country workforce.

“There was no athletics in my background. I used to be simply searching for one thing, and once I joined that workforce, I discovered a neighborhood,” she stated. “I additionally discovered my physique may very well be used as a device 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 operating in addition to biking, mountaineering, 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, nevertheless it stored falling into place as I selected extra adventures and doing extra issues.”

Rusch would spend time working in a neighborhood well being membership, which ultimately led to her opening a series of rock-climbing gyms herself. After that, she went again to exploring once more. She wasn’t motivated by cash or making a dwelling, 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 a tremendous journey that every one began with operating in highschool.”

After fulfilling a drive to be first in competitions, she shifted her focus to new firsts similar to 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 experience it and get a traditionally correct sense of it.”

She found loads on that journey, together with that there are nonetheless ramifications of the warfare being felt in the present day. There are nonetheless unexploded gadgets there that might trigger hurt to unintended victims. Rusch felt compelled to assist enhance consciousness of this and discover a option to make a constructive change.

“I had no concept. I assumed the one a part of the warfare left was recollections, however I really feel my dad known as me there to indicate I may make a distinction.”

That experience related her to her dad in a singular method. 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 could 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, nevertheless it was really a brand new opening for me,” she said.

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 by utilizing 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 generally.

Rusch shared, “The bike is a global image of journey, connectivity, and mobility. Those that noticed the bike may instantly inform that I used to be on a journey.”

The emblem 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 individuals to assist with psychological well being, bodily well being, connectivity, neighborhood, 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 experience a motorbike as a child. There was one thing empowering in regards to the coaching wheels coming off and with the ability to experience by yourself. She desires children to really feel that very same empowerment in the present day.

“There was a way of freedom, then you definitely go hang around with your mates 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 drugs and the USA Air Pressure. 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 acquired from their father. Sharon serves on the Board for the Be Good Basis.

“It’s actually superior,” Rusch stated proudly. The sisters are clearly obsessed with serving to others enhance themselves, discover methods to assist others, and make a distinction, however most significantly, she hopes that the individuals she reaches will observe her total message a mission.

“Be good.”

For extra data on the Be Good Basis, go to TheBeGoodFoundation.org. You’ll be able to see extra and #JointheRusch at RebeccaRusch.com .