My name is John Maus. I am a former wild-land firefighter and am currently a junior in Central Michigan Universities Exercise Science program. This spring 1 week after school ends I will be embarking on a journey across the continental United States, Yorktown, Virginia to Astoria, Oregon in an effort to raise as much money as I can for Mott Children's Hospital. I will peddle my bike the whole 4288 miles give or take a few hundred for getting lost or turned around... I am funding this project myself, with the resources I have I must be minimal with my spending on the trail as I can be, which means cowboy camping eating oatmeal and peanut butter and whatever else is as low cost as possible. I have reached a point in my life where upon reflection I see I am as blessed as a human could be! I have a body and mind curious and capable of learning, growing and adapting to the demands required of it and having the freedom to express myself and live whichever way my heart takes me. So far in my life many of my motivations and goals revolve around what I am gaining personally. I feel now that the time has come for me to give back, to use my body and my resources to do good for someone else too be a part of something greater than my seeking personal gain. I feel I need to make a balance in my life of seeking to grow my self but also seeking to build others up as best I can. So I ask anyone who feels the need to give back, to make a contribution to those who have been given a more difficult path in this life. I am not accepting any donations other than food and maybe bike parts on the trail, all donations go straight too this fundraiser for Mott Children's Hospital. I ask you, search yourself and see what you can give back to the world, what can you do for someone else today.
The NEED
Nearly 1 in 110 babies are born with congenital heart disease, making it the No. 1 birth defect in the country. And, it’s a diagnosis that requires lifelong care.
The Congenital Heart Center (CHC) at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital is one of the largest and best pediatric heart programs in the U.S. It is also an international referral center for kids with complex congenital heart disease.
Our center provides the most advanced care for infants, children and adolescents with all forms of heart disease, as well as for adults born with congenital heart defects. We aim to lead the way in giving kids with heart defects the best life possible by:
- Creating systems that allow congenital heart survivors to thrive
- Connecting heart centers across the country to establish standards of care
- Enabling more research and faster discoveries
- Providing personalized medicine
- Jumpstarting development of innovative devices and therapies
With the Save A Heart fund, the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center is committed to advancing research, inspiring clinical innovation and providing assistance to families facing devastating heart conditions.
