Just passing through town
By Dan Kuss
lbnews@itctel.com
Tom “EZ” Goen of Dyersville, Iowa, home of “Field of Dreams,” stopped over in Lake Benton on day two of his trek through all 49 states in the mainland to raise awareness of medical help out there for those who desperately need it. Private citizens of Lake Benton fed and put Goen up for the night at Becker’s Resort.
Tom “EZ” Goen of Dyersville, Iowa, home of Field of Dreams, stopped over in Lake Benton on day two of his trek through all 49 states in the mainland to raise awareness that there is medical help out there for those who desperately need it.
Private citizens of Lake Benton fed him a hot meal and put Goen up for the night at Becker’s Resort. Becker’s, in return, gave them a discount on the room and fed Goen breakfast before he ventured back out on the road to see where his travels and fate will take him.
“It’s good therapy to be out on the open road,” said Goen. “I truly appreciate the hospitality and friendliness of the people in Lake Benton.”
Goen is 48-years-old and plans to drive through all of the lower 48 states and hopes to catch a ferry to Alaska in his travels. He rides to raise awareness that there is help out there for people who desperately need medical help. Goen’s goal is to arrive back at the Field of Dreams on 10/10/10, which is his birthday. He mapped out a course on an atlas as to which states he will head to, but will wing it when it comes to where he will go or what course he will take through each state.
Goen has an auto-immune medical condition and sever psoriasis. He lay on his couch for three years not knowing if he would survive. He had no medical insurance until doctors at the University of Iowa hooked him up with Iowa-care, which is a free state health insurance program.
Iowa-care provided doctors visits and the expensive prescriptions that Goen needed to treat his condition. One of the prescriptions was a shot that Goen received twice a week that added up to $40,000 per year, for that one prescription alone. There were others that were expensive as well.
“I wouldn’t have made it without the help of Iowa-care,” said Goen. “I want to send a message to people to never give up. There is help out there; you just need to find it.”
Goen went from 167 pounds to 120 pounds, became anemic and depressed.
His mother finally came to him, started feeding him and helped him get started on the road to better health. He was administered over six pints of blood and kept losing blood for awhile.
When he became healthy enough, he decided to travel through as many states as possible. His mission is called PURPAL, which stands for People United Relieving Painful American Lives.
He walks with a custom cane that breaks down and fits in a compartment on his bike for easy access, sits on his leather hat and rides an Ultra Classic bike with a Voyager kit on it, custom made for him. He carries a suitcase, tent and sleeping bag in addition to a video camera, a laptop and other gadgets to help him communicate with friends and family back home and to document his trip and add new friends along the way.
He now uses a Rand-McNally Harley Atlas, which lists all the Harley Davidson Dealerships in the country, in case he has vehicle trouble.
He plans to head to North Dakota, then through South Dakota and the Badlands on his way to Montana, where he will visit with his brother before heading to Washington and hopefully Alaska.
He will then ride down the west coast to San Diego and weave his way up and down the southern states.
“I can hit a lot of the east coast states in a single day, since they’re so close together,” said Goen.
“On my way home I will stop in Belleveder, Ill. and pick up my daughter. She will ride the last leg of the trip with me.”
While in Lake Benton, Goen was overcome with the hospitality and compassion shown to him. Bert Kuehl of Lake Benton and one of the bartenders, who wished to remain anonymous, split the cost of a room at Becker’s Resort.
Goen shared his story with all and signed copies of a news article about him by the Dubuque, Iowa Telegraph Herald.
“EZ” Goen made quite a stir during his short stay in this town along the way. “I had driven about 300 miles and as I came close to Lake Benton, I thought, that sounds like a nice place to stop for the night,” said Goen. “I’m sure glad I did. I had no idea that there were people out there as nice as this.”
You can follow Tom “EZ” Goen and his journey on Face book, by searching for Tom Goen. Here are some excerpts from Goen’s Face book page as he rolled into and out of Lake Benton.
Tom Goen: Just got a call from the Director of the National Psoriases Foundation. Said they Googled me. Not sure how they got my cell number. Wanna do a video shoot when I get to Portland. August is National Psoriasis Month. I’ll be staying with Adam when I get there.
Tom Goen: Done for the day after 300 miles. In Lake Benton, Minnesota. Lake Benton Bar is owned by the city. I’m gonna camp at the Lake. The bar is giving me a free meal. I went through Nebraska and welcomed them to the Big Ten. I asked if it was true that their State Tree was a Telephone Pole. In Nebraska was in the Winnebago Indian Territory.
Tom Goen: Wow, the Lake Benton bar is wonderful. I showed them my story and all are buying me cold beer. The bar fed me a hot meal and the folks here paid for a real nice room at the lake resort. I will be in their newspaper next Wednesday. www.thelakebentonnews.com.
Tom Goen: Relaxing at the lake listening (to)something howl. It might be prairie dogs close to South Dakota. Big thanks to Lake Benton Lake for being so kind and taking care of me. This place will always be in my heart.
Tom Goen: Getting ready to leave Lake Benton Resort. I just got done with breakfast and it was on the house. They won’t take my money here in Lake Benton, Minnesota.