On July 6, Tom Dickelman will launch his 2026 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO from Illinois and begin a solo, 1,000-mile circumnavigation of Lake Michigan.
Over the next 26 days, he’ll visit 15 harbors across Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, host community gatherings centered on music and hope, and raise money for brain cancer research. But while the logistics of crossing one of North America’s largest freshwater lakes alone on a personal watercraft are impressive, Dickelman says the journey really began several years ago.
“I realized I never really grieved my sister’s death,” he said.
His sister, Sue, died from glioblastoma in 2022 after more than four years battling the aggressive form of brain cancer.
“I wasn’t having much fun anymore,” Dickelman said. “I put those two together and figured the best way to honor Sue was to raise money for glioblastoma treatments and cures—and to be on the water, which has always been my happy place.”
That idea became GLiO 1000.
“DO GOOD. HAVE FUN.”
The four words beneath the handlebars of “Suzy Q” that Tom Dickelman says guide both this journey and his life.
Dickelman is no stranger to Lake Michigan. A lifelong sailor and retired minister, he’s spent decades living along its shores, owned sailboats, windsurfers and powerboats, crewed in the famed 333-mile Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, and even circumnavigated the lake once before — on a Yamaha motorcycle, more than 40 years ago, before he entered the ministry.
Originally, he admits, his idea was even more ambitious.
“My first thought was to do the Great Loop on a WaveRunner,” he laughed.
Compared to that, a lap around Lake Michigan suddenly seemed almost reasonable.
Beginning July 6 from Lake Bluff, Illinois, Dickelman will head south to Chicago before crossing the lake to New Buffalo, Michigan. From there he’ll work his way north along Michigan’s shoreline before making the crossing to Beaver Island and eventually navigating the notoriously unpredictable waters around Death’s Door before returning south through Wisconsin.
Some destinations hold special meaning.
“I’ve never been to Beaver Island,” he said. “And I’m excited to stay with seminary friends in Manistee that I’ve only seen once in the last 45 years.”
The trip isn’t simply about covering miles.
At many of his stops Dickelman will host “Dance Between the Waves” community events featuring live music, conversation and stories centered on hope. Every event will be different—from appearances at parks and churches to waterfront restaurants—but each will share the same purpose.
“I wanted to learn more about how people think about hope,” he said, “and share what I learned from Sue.”
The journey also serves as a fundraiser benefiting the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Medicine, one of the nation’s leading brain tumor research centers.
“I think they loved that it wasn’t another gala or golf tournament,” Dickelman said.
His goal is to raise more than $100,000 for glioblastoma research.
Making the trip possible is a stock 2026 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO affectionately named Suzy Q, after his sister.
Aside from a built-in navigation system and a Rec Deck equipped to carry fuel, electronics and camping gear, the WaveRunner remains remarkably close to showroom condition.
Preparing for the ride, however, has been anything but ordinary.
Recognizing that his biggest obstacle might simply be staying healthy, Dickelman has spent the past eight months focusing on strength, flexibility and core conditioning while logging as much seat time as possible.
“I’ve worked out more diligently than at any time in the last 30 years,” he said.
He’s also discovered another unexpected source of motivation.
“The people who tell me, ‘You’re nuts,'” he laughed. “I only get more focused when people tell me I can’t do something.”
Dickelman knows the challenges won’t all come from rough water.
There are still overnight stops to finalize, weather decisions that may force schedule changes, and the ever-present possibility of mechanical issues far from shore.
But he also expects surprises of a different kind.
“I think there will be sunrises and sunsets that take my breath away,” he said. “What’s exciting is that I don’t know what lies ahead, whether they be joys or concerns.”
For the personal watercraft community, Dickelman hopes the adventure helps people see WaveRunners differently.
“I’d love people to see skis as wonderful, fast, fun, affordable boats,” he said.
It’s a pattern with him — using a personal challenge to help people see something ordinary in a new light. Forty years after his motorcycle lap, he’ll make the journey again — still on a Yamaha, but this time on the water
Whether GLiO 1000 raises $100,000, inspires someone facing their own challenge, or simply reminds readers that adventure doesn’t have an expiration date, Dickelman hopes people take away one simple idea:
“I’d love it if people began to think of hope as a verb,” he said. “It’s something we do, not just something we think.”
Follow the GLiO 1000 Adventure
Departure: July 6, 2026, from Lake Bluff, Illinois
Distance: Approximately 1,000 miles over 26 days
Watercraft: 2026 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO “Suzy Q”
Mission: Raise $100,000+ for glioblastoma research benefiting the Malnati Brain Tumor Institute at Northwestern Medicine.
Follow Along: Twice-daily updates, Garmin LiveTrack, route information and donation details are available at GLiO1000.org.
Follow the Journey: Dickelman plans to post twice-daily updates throughout the trip, along with a live Garmin tracker showing his progress around Lake Michigan. Readers can follow the adventure and learn more about supporting GLiO 1000 at GLiO1000.org.
