A few of you might bear in mind your dad and mom telling you to “be good” if you left house to go someplace resembling faculty or church. You would possibly even recall your grandparents saying this to your dad and mom as adults. For a lot of Individuals, “be good” was a standard parting phrase that was mentioned together with “I like you” or “be secure.” Within the eyes of the message giver, you by no means know when the following time you say it might 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 house, they’d finish with that phrase. Rusch was solely three years previous on the time that her father handed away. She and her sister can be raised by their mom in a single-parent house. She admitted it was a wrestle to search out her manner throughout childhood, however she discovered that manner after becoming a member of her highschool’s cross-country staff.

“There was no athletics in my background. I used to be simply in search of one thing, and after I joined that staff, I discovered a group,” she mentioned. “I additionally discovered my physique could possibly be used as a software 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 working 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 an area well being membership, which ultimately led to her opening a sequence of rock-climbing gyms herself. After that, she went again to exploring once more. She wasn’t motivated by cash or making a dwelling, though 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 an incredible journey that every one began with working in highschool.”

After fulfilling a drive to be first in competitions, she shifted her focus to new firsts resembling 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 could really feel that will 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 quite a bit on that journey, together with that there are nonetheless ramifications of the conflict being felt in the present day. There are nonetheless unexploded gadgets there that might trigger hurt to unintended victims. Rusch felt compelled to assist improve consciousness of this and discover a approach to make a constructive change.

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

That experience linked her to her dad in a singular manner. She was so impressed by her expertise that she created a documentary known as “Blood Street,” which went on to make that distinction, and it might win awards as nicely. Extra importantly, it led to a profession and life shift that will assist many individuals far past herself.

“Many individuals felt like that will’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 approach to “enrich communities through the use of the bicycle as a catalyst for therapeutic, empowerment, and evolution.” A part of that mission consists of group bicycle rides to assist promote biking and health basically.

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

The brand for the muse is even in Mr. Rusch’s handwriting, which serves as a logo 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, group, service, and getting extra youngsters on bikes.”

That final merchandise is particularly vital to her as a result of she recalled the liberty that got here with studying to experience a motorcycle as a child. There was one thing empowering concerning the coaching wheels coming off and having the ability to experience by yourself. She needs youngsters 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 pals and go on adventures. I don’t need us to lose that as adults.”

As for Rusch’s sister, she discovered her personal path via drugs and the US Air Power. Main Basic Sharon Bannister discovered the connection to their father via 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 obtained from their father. Sharon serves on the Board for the Be Good Basis.

“It’s actually superior,” Rusch mentioned proudly. The sisters are clearly captivated 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 general message a mission.

“Be good.”

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