Turning Miles into Momentum
When a “wonderful, wacky idea” turns into a mission for hope.
Published: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
By: Kristen Ordonez
This summer, longtime Lake Michigan sailor and waterman Thomas Dickelman will attempt a 1,000-mile circumnavigation of Lake Michigan to raise awareness and funding for glioblastoma research — alone, on a WaveRunner. Inspired by the loss of his sister and driven by a deep love of the water, the GLiO 1000 is part endurance challenge, part tribute, part floating fundraiser, and part film documentary (coming out this Fall). We sat down with Dickelman to talk about where the idea began, why Lake Michigan was the only choice, and what it takes to take on a journey of this scale.
What was the moment when the idea for a 1,000-mile WaveRunner circumnavigation of Lake Michigan first became real for you?
The idea came to me last fall when I was thinking about doing something to honor my sister, who died of glioblastoma in 2021. I wanted to do something fun that would attract attention to help raise more money. It all became real when I shared the idea of GLiO 1000 with people I respected, and the general response was “what a wonderful, wacky idea!” Then I contacted the folks at the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, and they were enthusiastic, too. … I knew it was definitely going to happen when a few people who’d heard about GLiO 1000 began to write checks. That’s when it became more than just a crazy idea.
Why Lake Michigan, and why a WaveRunner, as the vessel for this journey?
I’ve been fortunate to live in communities on the shores of Lake Michigan for nearly 40 years. I love Lake Michigan! And I’m a sailor and have been to the majority of harbors on the lake. So, Lake Michigan was the natural choice. As for a WaveRunner? Doing a 1000-mile trip on a WaveRunner sounded a lot more fun than doing it any other way. If it were 30 or 40 years ago, I would have dreamed up something involving windsurfing, which is my favorite way to be on the water. Those days, unfortunately, are mostly in the rearview mirror.
GLiO 1000 is about much more than an endurance challenge. How does this journey connect to your commitment to glioblastoma research?
I’ll admit that honoring Sue by making a 1,000-mile trip on a WaveRunner is not something she would do. Her idea of being on the water was floating in her pool. I believe the best way to honor her is not to do something she would do, but instead to raise as much support as possible to fight the cancer that took her life. Glioblastoma is a very aggressive form of cancer, with average survival rates of only 12 to 18 months. Anything that could be done to move toward more effective treatments and a cure made sense to me. I knew I could not write a six-figure check to Malnati, but if I did something way outside the box, I could attract attention and support. And my mind naturally went to doing something I loved, which is being on the water.
Your fundraising goal exceeds $100,000. What impact do you hope that level of support can have on glioblastoma research?
In my initial conversations with folks at the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, I told them it was essential that GLiO 1000’s financial support have a real impact. After a conversation about what that meant, they outlined a special fund that provides researchers with the financial resources to do early-stage testing toward treatments and cures. These tests typically cost between $10,000 to $50,000, and if they show promise, researchers are then able move forward toward more comprehensive tests and studies. I think of GLiO 1000 as helping fund a glioblastoma kick starter campaign.
A thousand miles in roughly a month on a WaveRunner. Regular or beginner boaters might find this "crazy," but how doable is it really for someone like you? What does a typical day on the water look like for you?
On one hand, I understand the feeling that a 1000-mile, month-long WaveRunner trip is a little crazy! Most people would never conceive of such a trip. I think of it differently. I think of it as “How lucky am I to be able to raise support for a great cause, meet interesting people, and spend the better part of July on the water? And be able to host 14 ‘Dance the Between the Waves’ events, talk about hope, and hear some great live music – all while turning the entire adventure into a documentary?” I’m so fortunate.
As for what a typical day looks like, the one thing that will define every day from start to finish is Mother Nature. I’ve spent enough time on Lake Michigan to know what can happen. I crewed on a custom 70-foot sloop that had its 40-foot long boom snap in two during a squall in a Chicago to Mackinac race, that for a few moments had the back half of the broken boom flying around like a toothpick despite probably weighing a couple hundred pounds. I remember thinking “I just might die” as I hung on for dear life. So, know the fury of the lake. Because of that, each day will begin by asking, “when is the safest and smartest time to get to the next harbor where I’ll host the early evening events?” The other piece that will be part of the trip is filming, whether it is setting up drone shots, taking GoPro footage from the WaveRunner, or wandering around a harbor town dreaming up fun things to do and finding people to talk to while waiting for the weather to cooperate.
What sections of Lake Michigan concern you the most from a physical or navigational standpoint?
I’m working out more aggressively than I have for 35 years. The one thing that could cause GLiO 1000 to be a bust is if I am not physically up for the challenge of riding a WaveRunner for, in some cases, hours at a time. Or if I get injured while being on the lake when I shouldn’t be. So, my own level of fitness is a top priority and will be a primary focus until I arrive home. From a navigational standpoint, doing a coastal circumnavigation of Lake Michigan is fairly simple, as I will be in sight of land the majority of the trip. Where it does get exciting with little margin for error is when I am offshore, such as the 45-mile trip from Beaver Island to Manistique. It’s all open water.
An important piece to remember is that on most sailboats, if you run into bad weather or trouble in the middle of the lake (I once had an engine fire at 5:30 a.m. that fried the entire electrical system on my sailboat Anam Cara while 10 miles off the Michigan shore), it typically takes a long time to find a safe harbor. On a WaveRunner with a top speed of 70 mph, you can get to a safe place really quickly. And, WaveRunners have a reputation for being robust. The key to it all is paying attention. To the sky, waves, clouds, weather reports, and your instincts. Finally, even on the potentially riskiest part of the trip when I am halfway between Beaver Island and Manistique, I’m never more than 25 miles from a harbor.
How are you preparing for long days, changing weather, and the unpredictability of the lake, not to mention mentally and physically?
After 70 years of life on this planet, I am finally learning how to accept what I cannot change. Like the weather. It just will be what it will be, and I’ll make the most of whatever situation I find myself. Because summer weather and Lake Michigan are unpredictable, I’m taking plenty of extra time to do the trip. For example, after an early evening event in New Buffalo/Lakeside, I’ve planned 48 hours until the “Dance Between the Waves” event in Saugatuck. Saugatuck is only 35 miles north of Lakeside, and on flat water it could be easily done in less than an hour. I’m setting aside the extra day because I can’t predict what the lake and weather will be like
The good news is that when I have an extended stay in a harbor town due to weather, our two-person film crew will be there. And together, we’ll dream up some creative things to do, whether it is me sitting on a park bench playing my ukulele and interviewing people about hope, or getting a sense of the unique culture of the town. There’ll be no shortage of wonderful things to do! And at my stage in life, when time seems to pass so quickly, long days can be a real blessing.
You’ve mentioned everything from banking and sponsorships to film students and harbor communities. Which part of planning has surprised you the most so far?
The level of support and enthusiasm for the trip has not been a surprise, but has really warmed my heart. Recently, I sent out a newsletter to about 400 friends and acquaintances, including some whom I’ve not seen for years, introducing GLiO 1000, our website glio1000.org, and my plans for this July. I heard back from a former colleague who wanted to donate in honor of his child, who died of glioblastoma. I also heard from a guy I played Little League baseball with 60 years ago, who has a home on Lake Michigan and offered his place as somewhere to stay. Still another friend from high school wrote, “Good to know you are still crazy – how can I help?” The level of enthusiasm for GLiO 1000 has been truly gratifying.
What do you hope viewers take away from the documentary when it releases this fall?
A couple of things. First, I believe just about everyone is fighting some kind of battle, all the time. Health. Job. Relationships. You-name-it; we are all fighting battles, large and small. My fervent wish is that the conversations we have and the interviews I do, posing the question “what gives you hope?” will help people hit the “refresh” button on how they think about and experience hope. In a glioblastoma context, hope is about much more than a sudden miracle cure or hoping to live as long as possible. Hope can also be about living each day you have to the max, which is what my sister Sue did so well. I trust people who watch the documentary will be inspired by our conversations about hope.
Second, it would be great if those who see the documentary/episodes will be inspired to make a donation to GLiO 1000 and the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute. Remarkable progress has been made over the past 50 years in finding treatments, and in some cases cures, for many forms of cancer. Glioblastoma is a particular brutal form of cancer, with a long way to go toward effective treatments and a cure.
Finally, I hope that people are inspired to live their visions and dreams by seeing a month-long story of someone who has - on a long-distance journey aboard a WaveRunner.
How do the “Dance Between the Waves” events fit into the overall journey?
My good friend Kraig came up with the idea to have the events. “Why don’t you have something at harbors along the way, and interview people about hope?” That evolved to become “Dance Between the Waves,” which will be uplifting, early evening gatherings of an hour or so with music, a few stories, and hopefully, people willing to share what gives them hope amidst the challenges they face. Kraig’s idea felt right to me, because it makes GLiO 1000 balanced. It’s not just about asking for money, it’s also about [us] providing something of value for people who attend the events and see the documentary/episodes.
How do you think the public support (messages, donations, sponsorships, etc.) will affect you when you’re out there alone on the lake? How is it affecting you already?
Public support is HUGE. It has already impacted me in such a positive way. Not in terms of “uh oh, they’ve given me money — now I really have to do this!” But more in terms of the love and support I have felt from people who’ve enthusiastically embraced an outside-the-box idea. And I believe thinking about all those people will help keep me going on long days when my back aches and I question my own sanity and ask myself, “Why am I out here bouncing around and dreaming of a massage to work out all the kinks when I could be back home playing a friendly round of golf with my pals?” Finally, I really am inspired by the work of the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, and just thinking about what they do and the difference they make will help keep me going.
For potential donors, what would you say makes GLiO 1000 a meaningful investment rather than just a one-time contribution?
I absolutely see GLiO 1000 as an investment. Primarily because it is rooted in the future, in our children and our children’s children. They are the ones who will benefit from the research that is being done today. I don’t know if I will ever hear of a breakthrough in glioblastoma treatment or a cure in my lifetime. But I don’t need to. It’s enough to know that we are investing today to make life better tomorrow for those diagnosed with glioblastoma.
On a more personal level, what does it mean to you to attempt something this ambitious, public, and physically demanding?
Mostly, I feel incredibly fortunate to have a creative idea that’s both fun and, in a small way, makes the world a better place — and be able to act on it. I’m comfortable with the ambitious part. I was always a poor student in school, but somehow earned a doctorate and published two books. I founded an independent church (that met each summer Sunday on a Lake Michigan beach) during a time when fewer people than ever go to church, yet when I retired last summer, we had over 300 active families. So, I am comfortable with the ambitious and public parts of GLiO 1000. I will admit that while the physically demanding part of the trip does not keep me up at night, it does get me to the gym 5 times a week. When I shove off on July 6, I’ll be 70 years old with two fairly recent knee replacements, 4 shoulder surgeries, 5 herniated discs, blah blah blah. And I was recently fitted for hearing aids! The point? I have quite a journey ahead, but at the end of each day, the primary feeling I have is not about GLiO 1000’s magnitude, but my own gratitude.
What are you most excited about as we head into the warmer months? What are you most nervous about?
I am super-excited to get to know the WaveRunner. I've owned all sorts of boats in my life, from a Boston Whaler and a 23’ Yamaha Jet Boat to windsurfers and a Bill Crealock-designed Dreadnaught Cutter. But I have never owned a personal watercraft! So, I cannot wait to head south this spring, find some non-frigid fresh water, strap on a wetsuit and get to know everything I can about the WaveRunner I’ll be using. Right now, I am most concerned about making sure GLiO 1000 has the financial resources to do the trip and the documentary in the right way.
After this is all done and over, how do you think you will personally define success for this journey?
I need to arrive home safely and in one piece. I want to raise at least $100,000 for the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute. And, I also want people who attend “Dance Between the Waves” events and watch the documentary to be inspired to reflect on what hope means in their lives. If those three things happen, it will be a wonderful success. And then I will be free to start dreaming about what’s next…
To learn more about GLiO 1000 and to support Tom’s journey, visit glio1000.org
tags: awareness, glioblastoma, Great Lakes, Lake Michigan, Michigan, sail, sailing, WaveRunner
