Here’s a quick look at some of the many amazing individuals taking off on their bikes for tours long and short:
Bill Harrison is a Lenexa, Kansas cyclist who recently embarked on a long-time dream of bicycling across America. He began on May 4th in Williamsburg, VA and will finish in Eugene, OR on August 4th. Follow his journey on BetterBills TransAm Blog.
This summer, Erin Renard is riding her bike form Russell, Kansas to New Jersey on her Cycling for Alzheimer’s “Ride for your Life” tour. You can follow along on her blog. See also: Russell woman will ride for Alzheimer’s
Cross-county cyclists want to ‘outsmart’ brain cancer: Anne Feeley, whose parents live in Olathe, is in the midst of a 4,000 mile bike ride across the country to raise awareness and funds for brain tumor research and support, called Brains on Bikes. In May 2006, Feeley, 55, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Wichita bicyclist raising money to fight breast cancer: Richard Stephens, a retired high school administrator from Wichita, Kansas is riding 1,000+ miles from Wichita to Winnipeg, Manitoba as a fund-raiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation to help in the fight against breast cancer. See also: Long bike ride makes Wichita State plane crash survivor feel even more alive.
KU students plan to bike across country to benefit affordable housing: Jillian Strobel will be leaving in June for a two-month bike ride across America. The Kansas University senior will be part of a group of youths riding to raise funds and awareness for affordable housing efforts.
Murrs Across America: Mom, Dad, and 2 kids from Springfield, Missouri take off on an epic journey across the United States: “Brady wears a cape. Jane has 8 imaginary sisters. We’re biking across America this summer with kids! We’re undertaking this adventure to promote family engagement, health, and environmental mindfulness.”
Springfield MoDOT Worker Biking Cross Country for Fallen Workers Memorial: Nearly 130 MoDOT workers have died working to make our roads safer and easier to travel, so now Kris Sandgren, a Springfield MoDOT maintenance worker, is taking nearly a month of his own vacation time to help raise money to build MoDOT’s Fallen Workers Memorial. “I carry all my tent, my sleeping bag, air mattress, basically everything I need, and I am going to travel from Anacortes, Washington to Jefferson City,” he said.
Lincoln, MO woman raising funds for cancer center by biking to Nashville: Freda Swigert, who has battled breast cancer, is biking and walking more than 500 miles to raise money for the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia. She left May 19th on a journey to Nashville, TN and hopes to arrive by Memorial Day.
Retiring priest is ready for his next mission: cycling to fight poverty: Five years ago, Matthew Ruhl, a 51-year-old Catholic priest, was riding a bike on the Katy Trail in Missouri on an early spring day when he had an inspiration. “I would love to cycle across the country,” he said. “And then a thought came to me that I could maybe do a lot of good for somebody.” He plans to ride over 5000 miles from Cape Flattery, WA to Key West, FL, leading the Cycling for Change tour, a call to action for all people of goodwill to address the growth of poverty in America.
Oklahoma State Student Rides Bike to Alaska: A college student takes going for a bike ride to a whole new level. Oklahoma State University student Curtis Moss took off from Oklahoma last week, his destination, Anchorage, Alaska. A trek that will take him nearly 4,000 miles, Moss is raising awareness about the National Student Exchange or NSE Program, which allows students to study at other participating colleges or universities for a semester or year.
Good luck and pleasant cycling to all!
