Jan Morrow: Tour DaVita Rider

Jan Morrow is the first woman patient rider on the Tour DaVita®, although Jan takes issue with the label of “patient.”  “I think ‘client’ is a better word,” she says.  “I don’t like to be labeled in terms of my illness.” 

Jan, who is 56 years old and living in Virginia Beach, Virginia, grew up on a farm and is an energetic lover of the outdoors who is at home with endurance events.  She’s run several marathons and even though she had three surgeries in four days earlier this year, is currently training for both the Tour and the Outer Banks Marathon, which takes place in November.  In April she joined thousands of women in crazy costumes for the “Dirty Girl” – a muddy, 5K obstacle course fundraiser for breast cancer research.  “It was great!  I’m happiest when I’m dirty and sweating,” said Jan.

Jan is a “client” at the same DaVita dialysis clinic as fellow rider Alphonso Jefferson.  Mandy Votaw, a technician at the clinic, and Savannah Tapp-Crump, a nurse there, who encouraged Jan to join the Tour, will also be riding this year.

Jan and her husband Bill have two children and three grandchildren.  She was a secondary school teacher for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in Norfolk for 30 years where her responsibilities included overseeing the varsity cheerleading team.  She notes that several of her deaf students were cheerleaders during her time with the team. 

Kidney failure hit Jan suddenly in 2008 as a result of amyloidosis – a blood disorder in which insoluble protein cells accumulate in tissues and organs throughout the body.  For Jan, the amyloidosis was in her kidneys.  “Almost overnight, I was on dialysis,” said Jan.  “I had never been sick a day in my life.” Jan makes it clear that her illness was a blow, but it’s clear that she doesn’t let it slow her down.  “I lean on my faith and the love of my family and friends – I couldn’t ask for better support.”

Jan, who is looking forward to the Tour despite the challenges posed by the surgeries earlier this year, likes the independence and freedom that cycling gives.  “I don’t have anything else but me and my bike,” said Jan.  “It’s all you – you don’t have to depend on anyone else.”