Sisters Tri'n for a Cure
Thank you to everyone who has already donated and made it possible for us to raise $103,552 as of March 2025!
A comprehensive list of all our amazing donors who have gotten us this far can be found at the bottom of the page.
The Top Donors and Full Donor List link at right have been reset as of April 2025 and forward.
Please help us reach our ultimate goal of $140,600!!
Two Sisters.........................................
Two Survivors.....................................
Two Triathletes..................................
Ironman Arizona Nov 20th 2011, Completed!
Ironman Cozumel Nov 25th 2012, Completed!
Ironman Boulder Aug 3, 2014, Completed!
Ironman Des Moines 70.3 June 20, 2021, Completed!
Ironman Des Moines June 12, 2022 - Not the day either of us hoped for but a good day none
the less!
Tess - Ironman Mont Tremblant Aug 20, 2023 – Great Swim and Bike completed, but due to low
tire pressure, just missed the cutoff so was not able to attempt the run
Tess – Michigan Titanium ultra-distance (140.6) Triathlon August 11, 2024, Completed!
Next Up: Tess – Ironman Wisconsin September 7, 2025
140.6 Miles .................140.6 Thousand Dollars..................
Follow our journey and join us in our quest to raise some $ to fund a cure for breast cancer!
On Facebook at TessAnne Ironman
Tess and Anne story update, March 2025:
It was a very busy year of working, working out, and training for Tess! It all paid off as she completed,
and won her age group, at the MITI (Michigan Titanium) 140.6 mile triathlon in August! She has never
stopped and has her sights set on Ironman Wisconsin in Madison on September 7th 2025!
Anne’s training ground to a halt again because of various health issues in late May 2024. She has
continued to swim, but will not be biking or running anytime soon. She is scheduled for hip replacement
surgery this May. She is hoping to be able to resume full activities in time to participate in SheSprints
Triathon, that benefits Hope Chest Charity providing specialized sweatshirts to women facing mastectomy
surgery, on September 6th 2025.
Tess and Anne story update, March 2024:
Wow, it's been a long time since we wrote these stories in 2011 and so much has happened in the years
since then!
Following Ironman Cozumel 2012, Tess intentionally took time away from triathlon to see her children
through high school and into college, including making it a priority to be at as many of their golf meets as
humanly possible.
Anne trained for and completed Ironman Boulder in 2014, then also took time off from long-distance
racing to concentrate on her son and husband, eventually becoming the primary caregiver for her
husband.
After the death of our Dad in 2019 we decided it was time to re-enter the Ironman scene and registered
for Ironman Des Moines 70.3 which was to take place on Father's Day 2020. That race did not happen for
anyone. 2021 was another story and many of us returned to racing that year. We finished Ironman Des
Moines 70.3 on June 20, 2021 in honor of our Dad. We had definitely caught the Ironman bug again and
trained for Ironman Des Moines 2022. It was a tough year for Anne following the death of her husband in
August 2021 and training provided a release and purpose for her. Unfortunately finishing the race was not
to be. Tess had Pneumonia just 2 weeks before the race and Anne had a knee injury that made finishing
the run unlikely for her. We made it through the 2.4-mile swim in great time and nearly 3/4 of the 112-
mile bike before deciding it was not the day we had hoped for and pulled out.
We doubled down training for races in 2023. Tess competed at Ironman Mont Tremblant Canada, but after
an awesome swim and tough bike (due to riding on a low tire) she missed the time cutoff and had to end
her race without attempting the run. She is training for the Michigan Titanium ultra-distance Triathon in
August of 2024. Anne had Ironman Boulder 70.3 2023 in her sights but health issues prevented her from
participating. She has resumed training after foot surgery with the goal of completing the Boulder race in
June of 2024.
We continue in our commitment to raising funds for Susan G Komen toward curing cancer in this world of
ours!
Tess’ Story (2011)
You are an Ironman! I first heard those words in Nov 06 after Rich and I shared the unbelievable
experience of training for and completing Ironman Florida. IM Triathlon is a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike
and a 26.2 mile run - 140.6 miles. It was an amazing journey and at the time I was unsure if my future
would entail any more IM events. Since then I have been fortunate enough to complete 3 additional IM
events. There have been bumps along the road, but isn’t that the way life is? I wouldn’t change a thing as
I have an incredibly wonderful and fulfilling life. Currently my sister Anne and I are training for IM AZ Nov
’11. This chapter of my story gives some insight into one of the aforementioned bumps in the road.
Following IM FL‘06 I was bitten by the IM bug. As the only way to register for IM is to sign up a year in
advance, I jumped at the chance to sign up for IM AZ when they decided to change the race from spring
to fall. Plus, as long as I was going to be in shape to do an IM in Nov, I might as well follow that up with
one in June. Coeur de Alene ‘09 was now on my calendar. While in the throes of training, I was rudely
interrupted by being diagnosed with breast cancer in Sept.08! How in the world was this possible? I was in
the best shape of my life and I had cancer? I’m out riding hundred mile training rides, swimming endless
laps in the pool, running better than ever, but that didn’t seem to be enough to keep me healthy. I had
about 2 months until IM AZ, how was all of that going to shake out? A lumpectomy removed the tumor in
Oct-not much training time was lost. After surgery, it was clear that it was in my best interest to undergo
Chemotherapy followed by Radiation Therapy. After a lot of soul searching, research and heart to hearts
with my oncologist and family, I felt the need to honor my training and participate in IM AZ. Training kept
me strong and I went into Chemo on an adrenaline high. The race was on a Sun, Mon was spent as a
family enjoying the wonderful AZ weather. Tues we flew home to face the reality of Wed. Wed morning
found me in MGMC before the dawn. I went into surgery to have a port put in my chest for easier chemo
treatments. My first treatment followed that afternoon. Thurs was Thanksgiving-I have so much to be
Thankful for. Thanksgiving to Valentines Day found me cycling through the highs and lows of chemo
rather than bi- cycling. I continued to train as much as I could. However, walking Rocky was the most I
could muster on some days. What great motivators and confidants pets are. No one mentioned the
pending Coeur de Alene event. I kept it in my heart motivating me, but had to wait to see how the chemo
and rads would affect me. The real shocker came one evening in April- Rich was watching TV and I was in
bed with a tri mag. Rich yelled for me to come downstairs and we watched in disbelief as my name
scrolled on the screen as a lottery winner to participate in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI
in Oct. Talk about hitting the jackpot. This is every triathlete’s dream come true and surely my consolation
prize for having to go through the cancer scare. A fairy tale come true in the world of triathlon. Words
can’t describe the race in HI or ever do it justice; you just have to witness it. Being there as a part of the
mystique and being able to share it with “Team Tess” was over the top. I’ve watched all the IM World
Championship videos countless times, and to be a part of that race was a gift I will never forget. It was
difficult to focus on the challenge of IM CDA with out getting caught up in the pending Kona adventure. I
wouldn’t recommend competing in 3 IM events in 11 months to anyone. However, I believe that focusing
on and training for IM was one of the major factors in bringing me through my cancer treatments strong
of mind, body and spirit. Along the way, my sister Anne caught the tri bug. How incredibly rewarding to be
able to give advice to and cheer for someone who is just beginning in the sport. As Anne progressed and
added longer distance events to her resume I let her know that once she was ready to step up to the IM
distance, I’d do her first one with her. That’s where we were during the summer and fall of 2010, trying to
decide which race would be ours. Then the unthinkable, Anne called with the news that she too had been
diagnosed with breast cancer. Our cancers were similar, but not exactly the same. We both had genetic
testing that came back negative, so we’re just part of the statistical crap shoot of 1 in 6 women. Here we
are, Anne and I, we are: wives, mother’s daughters, nieces, aunts, but most importantly in this chapter of
our story, We are sisters, we are survivors, we are trathletes. Follow us, support us, be inspired by us. We
are here for you and your loved ones, Tri’n For A Cure!
Anne’s Story (2011)
My name is Anne Ruybal; Tess (Teresa) Balsley is my sister. Unlike her, I have never considered myself to
be an “athlete”. I have not been involved in any type of organized or competitive sport since high school,
Oh so many (34) years ago! I have occasionally hopped on the fitness bandwagon and decided to run a
little (no more than 5 miles at once) or mountain bike a little (no more than 15 miles at once). My
husband Joe and I used to hit the trails weekends as he biked and I roller-bladed; one day we actually did
this for 35 miles! That was a long time ago though. In November of 2006 Tess and her husband Rich
completed their 1st Ironman in Florida. We watched almost spellbound on the Internet as countless people
crossed the finish line of that event; we cheered as we saw Rich then Tess cross, and I got a strange and
unexpected choked up and teary feeling. I also thought exercising for 14 hours non-stop was out of the
realm of my imagination or physical abilities. Yet something in me was intrigued.
After that I biked and ran a little more consistently. Life and work went on. Then my sister got breast
cancer in the fall of 2008. She had surgery. That November we watched the Internet stream of Ironman
Arizona as she crossed the finish line. The next week she started chemotherapy, and later radiation
therapy. Through it all she continued to swim, bike, run, work, be a wife and mother, and live her life to
the fullest. In January of 2009 I decided that if she could train for an Ironman despite all she was going
through I should get off my 49 year-old duff and do something about that triathlon curiosity inside myself.
I had my swim analyzed and got some pointers, then started swimming 2-3 times a week. I had my run
analyzed and got some real running shoes, then started running (well more like walk/jogging) 2-3 times a
week. I also got a road bike and rode it regularly. I completed my first triathlon in May. It was just a
Sprint race consisting of a 750 meter swim, 20K bike and 5K run, and I finished it! When I finished I felt
an elation that was indescribable, and was hooked. In June we watched online as Tess crossed the finish
line at the Coeur d’Alene Ironman. Again I felt that well of emotion as I watched so many people of all
ages finish the race. Later that month I finished my first Olympic distance triathlon. Before the race Tess
observed that she was surprised that I’d decided to become an athlete at this stage of my life. Funny
because she was my motivation and inspiration to do it. Later that year we travelled to Hawaii and got to
watch in person as Tess finished the Ironman World Championship in Kona what a great and inspiring
experience that was!
I recently read that you officially become a triathlete the moment you cross the finish line of your first
multisport event. I’ve now finished 6 triathlons so I guess I really AM an athlete! So now that I am, why
not go for the gusto and train for a full Ironman??
Last fall after completing my 2nd half-Ironman distance race, once again I followed my sister’s path this
time with breast cancer. By the Mercy and Grace of God it was found early and by the end of 2010, after
surgery and radiation therapy, that bump in my road of life was behind me. Tess and I decided to sign up
for an Ironman event to do together and we chose Ironman Arizona 2011. Now for some serious increased
training so hopefully I will finish the race with other mortal age-groupers well within the required 17
hours! Yet for me it’s about so much more than the race. We have been surrounded by the love, support
and prayers of family and friends. We have been blessed to survive cancer and now it’s our turn to pay it
forward by fundraising to help the Susan G. Komen For the Cure fund a cure for breast cancer. Through it
all we plan to share our experiences as we prepare for this race.
So I echo my sister in urging you to follow us, support us, be inspired by us. We are here for you and your
loved ones, Tri’n For A Cure!
We are so very grateful to all our amazing donors who made the first $103,552 possible:
Donor Name
Total amount donated 3/22/2024
thru 3/8/2025: $10,735.50
Ankeny-Riordan Veterinary Clinic PLC $300.00
Beverly Baustian $500.00
DK Plastics COMPANY $1,000.00
AHBA $500.00
Cindy Ellett $25.00
Gettin' Pink at Veenk $2,000.00
Greg A Mahon $100.00
Michael and Christine Porth $600.00
Raj and Steph Lartius $100.00
Tess/Veenker Fundraising $4,635.00
The Ruybal Family $847.50
Venita Currie $103.00
Wynne Landgraf $25.00
Donor Name
Total Amount as of 3/21/2024:
$92,817.00
Tess/Veenker Fundraising $28,082.47
Scott DeKok - DK Plastics $26,529.91
The Ruybal Family $13,846.99
Gregg Baustian and Jenny Puvogel $5,832.00
Donald and Beverly Baustian $1,849.80
Venita Currie $992.00
Pizza By The Slice $830.00
Sarah Heidelmeier $611.00
Lartius Household $603.00
Mary P Smith $500.00
Block Real Estate Group $400.00
Stephanie Fox $366.00
Diane Muncrief $309.00
Gary Pon $300.00
Geoff Stamp $250.00
Jean and John Brayton $250.00
Yvette Byrd $220.00
Anonymous $210.00
K'Lynn Lynn $210.00
Fran Berry $202.00
Jane Brogger $200.00
Jane Puvogel $200.00
Dick Hall - Door & Fence Store Ames $150.00
Emmi Miller $150.00
Jean and Kevin Anderson $150.00
Lea Bartley $140.60
Wynne Landgraff $130.60
Cecelia Muir $110.00
Dorin Gildermaster $105.00
David Orth $103.00
Holly Lester $103.00
Kathleen Lyons $103.00
Mary Howell $103.00
Scott Vance $103.00
The Stamp, Kaiser, and Shawver Families - Joseph Ruybal
memorial $103.00
Ames Golf & Country Club $100.00
Betts Stailey $100.00
Bill and Catherine Beachy $100.00
Billie Houck $100.00
Carolyn Dembczynski $100.00
Craig Marrs $100.00
David Hoffman $100.00
Dawn Felicissimo $100.00
Debby Magures $100.00
Derek and Jessica Balsley $100.00
Epix Gear $100.00
Jacqueline Maldonado $100.00
Kathy Lundy $100.00
Keith & Sandy Stamp $100.00
Lacey Smith $100.00
Margaret Dye $100.00
Mary Kay Steele $100.00
Mike Reese $100.00
Missy Carlisle $100.00
Phil and Helen Taylor $100.00
The Hoiberg Family $100.00
Tom Brayton $100.00
Cindy Ellett $91.20
Darla Newton $80.00
ISU Kineseology Dept $80.00
Myra Tunwall $80.00
Tammie Sawicki $80.00
Judy Boyles $77.25
Vonda Williams $75.00
McCormick $60.00
Suzie Mitchell $55.00
Constance Dahl $51.50
Cynthia Lucero $51.50
Melody Steinert $50.00
Brian & April Clay $50.00
Carol Shanahan $50.00
Chris and Molly Seaboch $50.00
Dan Morrical $50.00
Dennis Riordan $50.00
Farner Bocken Co $50.00
Glen Houghton $50.00
Gus and Ann Fulk $50.00
ISU MGMT 370 c/o Jarrett Enevold $50.00
John & Darla Newton $50.00
John and LouAnn Norlin $50.00
John Rago $50.00
Judy Thompson $50.00
Judy Wells $50.00
Karen Nettlletom $50.00
Kevin & Carol Kisling $50.00
Lisa and Duane Reeves $50.00
Listy Smith $50.00
Mary Finch $50.00
Michelle Mena $50.00
Mr. & Mrs. Fenner Nale $50.00
Mr. Michael Thomas Neiss $50.00
Norman and Ann Rudi $50.00
Penny Montgomery $50.00
Roehrick $50.00
Sara Tibby $50.00
Shelly Lynch $50.00
Stacy and John Joiner $50.00
Susan Masters $50.00
The Lambert Family $50.00
Lynn Deiter $45.75
Debbie Woods $45.00
Carrie Stovall $41.60
Chuck Riordan $40.00
Kirk Geist $40.00
Vonda Muncy $40.00
Ronald Brockman $35.00
Ray & Mary Jane Goeke $30.00
Tara Vargish $30.00
Brad and Joline Dye $25.00
Chanyn Bird $25.00
Cherie Bohning $25.00
Diane Tobias $25.00
ET & Lucille Taylor $25.00
Gina Holtzbauer $25.00
Isabel Reinert $25.00
Janet McMahon $25.00
Jerilynn Klaver $25.00
John Nervig $25.00
John Piscitello $25.00
Julie Riesselman $25.00
June Morris and Family $25.00
Kathy O'Neal $25.00
Keri Kain $25.00
Margie Johnson $25.00
Missy Murphy $25.00
Nicole Burleson $25.00
Paula Fleming $25.00
Ron Hill $25.00
Sandra Bower $25.00
The Hemming Family $25.00
Kerry Dixon-Fox $20.00
Mona Wilson $20.00
Natalie Kepley $20.00
Robert Dowling $20.00
July Flory $16.00
Darrell & Sherri Webb $10.00
Merry Rankin $10.00
Rebecca Saiz $10.00
Kristin Pruismann $8.00
Angela Reick-Hinz Undisclosed
Barbara Calvin Undisclosed
Basil L. Lancaster Undisclosed
Bill and Betty Stringfellow Undisclosed
Brice Davis Undisclosed
Carol Eddy Undisclosed
Diane Hunter Undisclosed
Drs Darrell & Gail Adams Undisclosed
Edward H. MacBurney Undisclosed
Episcopal Church Women - Keokuk Undisclosed
Frances S. Ryan Undisclosed
George Eichacker Undisclosed
Helenn Franzgrote Undisclosed
Jack & Joan Chrischilles Undisclosed
Jim and Ernestine Meletiou Undisclosed
Joan T Logan Undisclosed
Joseph and Margaret Boyle Trust Undisclosed
Kathryn E Hossley Undisclosed
Linda Baustian Undisclosed
M D McCLure Undisclosed
Marilyn M Thompson Undisclosed
Martha Sue McAllister Undisclosed
Mary Elizabeth Wolter Undisclosed
MarySue Connelly Undisclosed
Maxine Clippert Undisclosed
Michelle Adams Undisclosed
Mullenax Financial Group Undisclosed
MW Allemeier Undisclosed
Nadine Huiskamp Undisclosed
Nick and Sue Daskolos Undisclosed
Robert Ladehoff Undisclosed
Sam Teague Jr Undisclosed
Susan Borne Undisclosed
The Rev & Mrs. Thomas Gwinn Undisclosed
Tim and Kathy Gundlach Undisclosed
Wilton Hutcheson Undisclosed
