ESTHERVILLE — The call was unexpected, the news devastating.
On June 27, Scott Matter, the executive director of RAGBRAI’s Dream Team, was on his nightly bike ride when his cellphone rang. On the line was the aunt of team member Jacob Thacker. Through tears, she shared that the 16-year-old had died by suicide.
Shocked, Matter quickly pedaled back to his Des Moines apartment and began informing the group.
“I knew Jacob really well and we all loved him. He’s a really good kid,” an emotional Matter said of the Adel teen and three-year Dream Team rider, whose spirit and legacy now guides his 65-member crew as they embark on the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
The Dream Team is made up of Des Moines metro youth who’ve faced challenging circumstances, pairing them with mentors who help them bolster their health and self esteem by preparing them to take on an achievable but daunting challenge: riding RAGBRAI. Each member is provided a road bike and the team begins training the winter before, building their endurance with frequent rides.
Team members who complete 1,000 miles of riding participate in RAGBRAI for free, and those who complete the ride get to keep their bikes and gain confidence in their capabilities. But as Matter will tell you, no few of them are all too familiar with the mental health issues that must have haunted Jacob.
On Wednesday, July 23, RAGBRAI’s I Ride 4 Day, the team plans to honor him by donning matching shirts bearing the phrase “Mental Health Matters” and the 988 Suicide Lifeline number. Many riders already are displaying on their helmets teammate AJ Wilson’s custom-designed stickers with the image of a bike wheel and the message “we ride for Jacob.” Members plan to hand out teammate Kamari Cole’s bracelets to participants Wednesday bearing a similar sentiment.
The last few weeks have been tough for the tight-knit team, which has spent the last five months training for the seven-day, 406-mile journey. AJ, Kamari and other members told the Des Moines Register that since Jacob’s death, they have leaned on one another for comfort and support.
Recent group huddles provided room for the young members and their mentors to speak freely about their grief, Matter said. And the Dream Team connected them with mental health professionals and grief counselors and organized outings to help them navigate their emotions.
‘He’s still riding here with us’
To many, Jacob was a friend, a leader, an athlete and an active member of his church and community. He played football and ran track. Last year, Matter said, Jacob appeared on Dream Team’s podcast, walking listeners through his busy summer, which at the time included grueling 5 a.m. workouts and being a camp counselor.
Jeremiah Wright, 15, of Bondurant recalled Jacob’s sense of humor.
“I remember Century Day last year,” he said, referring to the annual, optional loop that makes it possible for riders to achieve a 100-mile day. “We were like the first youth group in, and then (Jacob) made fun of us for not being the first group in general.”
For Kamari, losing Jacob “physically broke me,” but she is reminded of him even through the littlest things.
“He’s still riding here with us,” the 15-year-old from Des Moines said. “Sometimes, when you walk around the towns, you see the posters. You can see his signature.”
Nolan Grimes, 18, looked forward to this year’s event because of Jacob. He thought they would be weaving between lanes together.
“Now that he’s gone, he’s still here with me,” he said. “I know that I’m riding this RAGBRAI for him.”
(This story was edited to correct Jacob Thacker’s last name.)
F. Amanda Tugade covers community and faith for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on X @writefelissa.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: ‘He’s still riding here with us:’ RAGBRAI Dream Team honors member lost to tragedy
Reporting by F. Amanda Tugade, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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