The Call That Changed the Ride
- Richard Webster
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
We thought the call might last a few minutes.
The goal was simple: talk with Steve Torbenson of RZ Industries about the mask Ken has been testing and ask a few questions before the Lake Michigan ride.
Instead, the conversation became something much bigger. It became a story about fathers protecting their children, a company choosing to help, a family stepping forward in faith, and hundreds of shoebox gifts waiting to reach children around the world.
Sixty-Five Pounds and One Big Promise
Ken has lost 65 pounds while preparing for this ride. He has trained almost every day, learned what his body can handle and tested the equipment he will depend on when the real journey begins.
The fundraiser also gave Ken a way to step forward when Laralynn's health forced her to slow down. Laralynn serves as a prayer coordinator for Operation Christmas Child and has spent years helping organize shoebox efforts. After pneumonia affected her lungs and put her on oxygen, Ken told her he would take the wheel on this project.
He quickly added that he could not do it without Laralynn or Richard.
Twenty Years Later, the Road Is Different
About 20 years ago, Ken rode around Lake Michigan with his brother Don. They covered 534 miles in only seven and a half days, often riding 70 to 80 miles a day.
This time, Ken is 68. He expects most days to fall closer to 50 or 60 miles, and he is approaching the trip with more preparation and a much stronger understanding of what a long-distance rider actually needs.
That includes protecting his lungs when smoke, dust or road construction makes the air difficult.
Ken is not pretending that wearing a mask while cycling requires no adjustment. He has tested the fit, learned which strap position works for him and practiced breathing through it during long rides. He also discovered one unexpected benefit on clearer days: it keeps the bugs out of his mouth.
Some portions of the Lake Michigan route may include dusty rail trails, unpaved bike paths and road construction. Steve explained that RZ offers different replaceable filters for different conditions, including an option intended for dust and another containing activated carbon.
When the conversation turned to Ken's hip replacement, Ken recalled being told he could ride as much as he wanted but should not run.
"Don't worry," Ken joked. "Women stopped chasing me a long time ago."
Steve's Story Started With His Sons
Steve's interest in better masks did not begin as an abstract business idea. It became personal while he was dirt biking with his four sons.
He had carefully equipped them with helmets, boots and protective gear. Then he looked back on the trail and saw the one area that remained exposed: their mouths and lungs.
The boys were smiling and having a great time, but their faces showed how much dust they were breathing. Steve described the moment through a father's eyes: the joy of watching his children ride mixed with the realization that he still wanted to protect them better.
That story connected immediately with Ken's ride. Different road, different generation, same instinct: help someone you love keep doing what brings them joy without ignoring the conditions around them.
A Company That Knows How to Show Up
Steve also shared a story that revealed what kind of company RZ Industries tries to be. When a pastor asked for help protecting pregnant women and young children living with severe air pollution in Mongolia, Steve's answer was simple: yes.
RZ Industries donated 6,000 masks, including smaller sizes for children.
That history made Steve's response to Ken feel less like a promotion and more like a continuation of something already built into the company.
During the call, Steve offered practical support for the trip, including masks, replacement filters and interchangeable outer shells. His goal was to help Ken adjust to changing conditions and have fresh filters available throughout the journey.
Steve summed up the heart behind the offer when he said, "This is really why we exist."
The Shoeboxes Are the Real Destination
The ride around Lake Michigan will be nearly 600 miles, but the true destination is much farther away.
Operation Christmas Child sends gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world. Many churches and families lovingly fill the boxes, but the shipping and handling still needs to be covered. That is where Ken's fundraiser comes in.
Every $10 helps ship one shoebox gift. The initial goal is $6,000 to help ship 600 shoeboxes, but there is no ceiling. Every dollar raised beyond that goal can help move even more gifts toward children waiting to receive them.
During the call, Steve asked where the shoeboxes go. Ken and Laralynn explained how the boxes are gathered, transported to a processing center, moved through customs and delivered in countries around the world, sometimes to children who have never received a gift before.
Prayer Will Travel With Them
Richard will support Ken from the van, leapfrogging ahead, preparing camp and helping manage each day's route. Laralynn will support the journey from home through calls, tracking and prayer.
She and her prayer partner already pray for the teams, events and countries connected to Operation Christmas Child. While Ken is on the road, that prayer will become even more personal.
Laralynn said she is proud of the challenge Ken has taken on. That encouragement will matter when the miles become difficult.
So will yours.
Help Carry the Mission Forward
You do not have to ride nearly 600 miles to become part of this journey.
Donate to help ship Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts: Support Ken's Samaritan's Purse fundraiser (Click here)
Follow the ride and encourage Ken: Leave a like or comment on the blog, then return to Facebook and add a word of encouragement there too. Knowing people are following along will help carry Ken through the hard miles.
See the mask Ken has been field-testing: View the RZ mask on Amazon (Click here)
Affiliate disclosure: Richard Webster may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to the buyer. Any commission helps cover expenses connected with the website and trip.
Please share this story with someone who believes a bicycle ride, a shoebox and one generous decision can travel farther than anyone expects.
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