Coast to Coast for Hope is a charitable organization dedicated to active philanthropy and building support to benefit the struggle against life-threatening diseases. Founded in 2003 by a group of college seniors who travelled across the United States by bicycle to raise awareness for cancer research, Coast to Coast for Hope has raised over $50,000.00 to help fight cancer and engage young people in ambitious, thoughtful community service. Click here to learn more!
Make a tax-deductible donation to Coast to Coast for Hope that will be used to support our rides and grow this year’s donation to fight life-threatening diseases!
There are lots of different ways to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Under normal circumstances, most of us would choose to fly. Perhaps some people would feel more inclined to drive (road trip!). As you know, we prefer to cycle. It is certainly not the most direct way, nor is it the most efficient, comfortable or straightforward way to get there.
Coast to Coast for Hope’s mission is to garner support and donations for causes like the struggle against cancer. Similar to the paths of our cross-country cyclists, the "path" of a donation to Coast to Coast for Hope is neither straight nor direct as it leads towards its ultimate destination (an example of this destination being a research budget for an exciting new approach toward curing ovarian cancer). The donation does not simply pass from our hands to the hands of a researcher.
The donation gets planted in the minds of our riders as they pack their gear onto their bikes for the first time. The donation overhears a crossing guard chatting with our riders on a hot summer day, sharing her experience with breast cancer and wishing them well on their journey. The donation reads the local paper to see that a Coast to Coast for Hope rider has spent his/her college graduation gift-money on a bike trailer instead of a celebratory trip to Vegas. While climbing a mountain pass in a National Park, the donation hears a man outside his R.V. ask a rider why the hell he is cycling up such a steep hill - the rider responds "for cancer" and the man pumps his fists in the air with shouts of encouragement. The donation rides right up to the Pacific shore, turns around, and sees that it is no longer a single donation but one of hundreds that joined it along the way.
I’m getting a bit carried away - donations can’t actually do things like listen to stories from cancer survivors, donate their own money to purchase equipment, or get a second wind when someone roots for them. But donations, like our riders, sure seem to travel a lot further out of their way than they may otherwise travel. And that’s exactly what we try and ensure happens here at Coast to Coast for Hope. That crazy diagram above this text highlights the many different worthwhile results a donation to Coast to Coast for Hope can achieve before it ends up in a budget for cancer research: the fight against cancer gets a few more moments in the public spotlight, a company decides to donate a little more money to cancer research this year, a coast-to-coast rider gains a lifelong perspective on community service, a few more people decide to go and talk to their doctor about a screening for cancer.
When that donation passes on from us to someone whose job it is to look for a new cure, it has grown stronger by travelling a long, winding and interesting road. Our riders can boast of the same experience when they complete their journeys. Together, our riders and that donation create instances of hope - and that’s a pretty powerful reason to take the long way.
Up, up and up - Coast to Coast for Hope riders are busy climing mountains. Kurt and Hayden are heading north through Colorado, riding in some of the highest altitutudes that they will encounter. The passes are tough but very different than the climbs that the team encountered back east in Virginia and Kentucky; the roads in the eastern states are older and have steep grades. Western passes usually comprise long climbs (upwards of 20 miles) with lower grades (near 5%) and corrrepsonding descents.
Here’s a map showing Hoosier Pass, CO. Kurt and Hayden climbed this pass and continued north into Breckenridge and Frisco.
Even though the teams are currently on a pretty well-travelled route, they have met many people who are in awe of what the teams are trying to accomplish. That’s certainly understandable when one considers that these five riders were still studying for their college finals last month. The five have chosen riding to the Pacific for cancer as their first post-graduate challenge - not a bad choice for taking one’s first steps into the real world!
The Rocky Mountains are in sight as both groups leave the Great Plains. Kurt and Hayden have climbed their first western mountain pass while Henry, Bryce and Tree are sprinting toward the Colorado boarder.
Check back soon for a look at the mountains that each team are climbing and descending.
Hayden, passing on the left.
Henry, Tree and Bryce take a break from their bikes upon some bikes.
Goatheads! These tiny-yet-menacing thorns populate Kansas roads and rip through tires.
While travelling through the state of Illinois two weeks ago, Kurt and Hayden were very fortunate to find two good friends and adamant supporters of Coast to Coast for Hope along their way… In fact, it wasn’t the first time that these two supporters had travelled a great distance themselves to check in on coast to coast riders; Pete Beucler (left in photo) and Pete Alward (middle left) had visited Brian Alward and Travis Rave in Abingdon, VA during the 2004 ride as well. Pete Beucler is an avid pilot, and as he did in 2004, he volunteered to fly with Pete Alward to a point on the team’s route in order to say “hello.” The cyclists met the airplane as it landed in Carbondale, Illinois.They all shared a hearty meal and some relaxing drinks – a welcomed respite for cyclists for sure.
Along the road, Coast to Coast for Hope riders meet so many people and receive so much support for what they are seeking to accomplish.One can literally trace the ride’s route via countless stories of kind people along the way.In this particular ride for cancer, kind people and support literally came out of the sky.
Thanks to both the Pete’s, along with all the supporters across the country!
Howdy Coast to Coast for Hope fans. Both groups are in Kansas at the moment - Bryce, Henry and Tree should be arriving in Pittsburg today or tomorrow, while Hayden and Kurt camped in Tribune last night. Next stop: Colorado!
Here’s some fun news: Coast to Coast for Hope was recently featured in ForbesTraveller.com’s article on "10 Voluntourism Trips" (click here to go to the article). Along with programs run by organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Earthwatch Institute, Coast to Coast for Hope’s cross-country ride and fundraising program was positioned as an interesting alternative to an ordinary vacation. We are described in the tenth and final slide as a model for "Do it yourself" types interested in making a difference. Forbes has also posted the write-up along with a photo of Travis Rave and Ryan Burke from the 2004 Ride, a photo that was taken in, of all places…
In recognition of Father’s Day, why not have a conversation with your father today about prostate cancer? Over 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone. Don’t know much about prostate cancer? Click here to find out more.
The struggle against prostate cancer was an important reason for putting Coast to Coast for Hope together back in 2003, and over $10,000 of the money raised during our inaugural ride was specifically marked for prostate cancer research.
Prostate cancer is just one of the many reasons we ride here at Coast to Coast for Hope. Screening and early detection are some of more powerful tools we have in fighting any cancer, so please take the time and have a chat with Dad today.
Lots of action to report. First piece of good news - we are quickly approaching the $10,000 mark for donations to the 2007 Coast to Coast for Hope Team. We’re all so thankful for this great start to our campaign, and our riders are pressing onwards knowing that they have momentum on their side. If you haven’t already donated, just click here to go directly to our online donations page. If you already have, why not take a few minutes and think about some potential sources for matching grants? Many employers, schools and other organizations that you work with everyday offer such contributions, and this is a powerful way to make your donation go even further towards fighting cancer.
Now from the road - The riders are still in two separate groups at the moment. Tree, Henry and Bryce are finishing up their time in Illinois. Here’s a quick update from Tree:
"We are about to cross into Missouri today. Illinois has been brief, but wonderful (many thanks to our new friends in E-Town), and we finished Kentucky strong, riding 200 miles in two days. The hills seem to be flattening out, but we have the Ozarks to look forward to, which have been described as "one long, self-propelled roller coaster ride." Sounds fun!
We’ve been camping out wherever possible, with public parks proving great assets in our journey. Again, we’d like to thank everybody who has helped along the way, you’ve made all this possible."
As Tree mentioned, town parks across the Midwest offer a wonderful opportunity to camp and relax after a long day of riding. Communities throughout this region are very welcoming and gracious in offering their public space for travelling cyclists.
Hayden and Kurt are a couple hundred miles ahead and are now entering Kansas. They’ve had some equipment challenges (it’s about time…) but have pushed onward at an impressive clip. Check back shortly for some more stories from the Midwest as our riders push on toward the Rockies!
Hello all. We have been trucking along at a swift pace and have made it to Harrodsburg, Kentucky (I am in the public library). Today has been a tough one, filled with strong headwinds, endless rolling hills and crazy dogs that attack bikers - one ran straight into Hayden’s bike and broke a panier. Anyway, I only have 10-15 minutes on this computer and I think my time is up!
I just wanted to let you know that we are on track and doing fine. We have met a lot of interesting people and have shared many stories that I will tell in time. Well, it’s time to hit the road again. I’ll try to check back in when I can.
The 2007 Team has been on the road for 10 days now and are pushing their way through Kentucky. Check out some of these pictures from the first leg of their trip.
Instead of pitching a tent, Hayden Coon enjoys the cover of a pavillion and relaxes after a long day on the road
Just heard from the team yesterday – they’ve made it across Virginia, climbed the Blue Ridge Mountains and are now deep into Appalachia.Kurt and Hayden are about a day ahead of Bryce, Tree and Henry, who took a slight detour to take care of some equipment issues.Two recent messages from Kurt are “A bit past Ashcamp Kentucky” (June 2) and “Hayden and I completed 102 miles today” (June 1).Pretty impressive considering the recent heat and the steep grade on those small country roads.
The fundraising results have also been impressive – we’ve already passed the five thousand dollar mark!Please tell your friends and co-workers about the team and let them know that they can donate online here.
Kurt, Bike and Trailer in the mountains
Check in shortly for information on the upcoming New York City happy hour fundraising event as well as more stories from the road as the team pedals through Kentucky.
The team encountered their first major mountain range as they pedalled through Virginia
