Lifelong friends put the ‘fun’ into a fundraiser for American Cancer Society

(Above) Lifelong friends Rob Juve, Mike Keefe and Dennis Johnson recently repeated a trip they made together 43 years ago-- this time as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.-Submitted photo.

A Clear Lake resident was among three Decorah natives who recently put the “fun” into a fundraiser by taking a classic road trip along the Mississippi.

Mike Keefe, a member of the Deborah High School Class of 1967, was joined by classmates Rob Juve and Dennis Johnson (’66) on a trip to the headwaters of the Mississippi River, a repeat of a trip they took together 43 years ago. They planned to travel from the headwaters to the end, where the Mississippi empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to being a fun excuse to drive Juve’s classic 1967 GTO convertible, the travelers wanted the trip to mean something.

“We thought it would be a unique way to raise funds for the American Cancer Society,” said Juve, who has been raising money for charity for about 25 years.

The trip was not the first time Juve has raised money for a good cause. Twenty-five years ago, he was looking for something fun to do, but he wanted it to mean something.

He told the Deborah newspapers, “At the time, my wife was pregnant with my daughter … It seemed to me, fathers just needed a little bit of support as well. Why not have some great activities to raise money for charity and give these men some relief?  Since then I’ve found out how amazing the results can be when we come together for a common good.”

He named his non-profit “Fathers Are Relatives Too” and the “FART guys” were born.

The Mississippi River road trip took shape as a cancer fundraiser because both Keefe and Johnson have battled the disease.

Keefe, of Clear Lake, is retired from the Iowa state fire marshal’s office. He has survived one bout with cancer.   Johnson, of Eldridge, is a former high school teacher and coach who was inducted into the Iowa Girls’ Athletic Coaches Association Softball Hall of Fame in 1998. He has kicked cancer once and is currently undergoing treatment for the disease for a second time.

The three amigos rendezvoused Oct. 17 in Northern Minnesota and walked across the Mississippi headwaters before heading south to the Gulf of Mexico.  Along the way, the crew made stops in La Crosse, Wis.; Quincy, Ill., Memphis, Tenn. (to see Elvis); and on to New Orleans, La.

The trio traveled a total of 1,848 miles.

They stayed in contact with several media outlets along the way and created a crowd-sourced, Internet fundraiser for cancer, and set a goal of $10,000. So far, they have raised $2,320 toward their goal.

Fundraising remains open until the end of the month.  To donate, visit crowdrise.com/the-fart-guys.