2007 Participants:

Kurtis Alward · Hayden Coon · Tristan Schneiter · Bryce Setta · Henry Stayduhar

2004 Participants: 

Travis Rave · Brian T. Alward · Cameron Feist · Ryan Burke

(Click each name or section to view)

2007 Participants:

 

Kurtis Alward

Age: 22 years old
Hometown: River Edge, NJ
High School: River Dell Regional High ‘03
College: ‘07 Champlain College Graduate: Bachelors of Science in Marketing
Bicycle: Giant OCR2

Though you may not have an immediate family member that is fighting cancer, I guarantee you know someone who is. So many people are forced to confront cancer, and many of those who are fighting to survive end up losing the battle. My father, who luckily beat cancer, still faced very difficult times. Everyone he knew was affected in some way or another by his struggle. Even though I had left my parents home to enter my first year in college, it was a tremendous blow to my morale. There was nothing more I could do to help my father than to be completely supportive and hope he would pull through.

Although we were lucky that my father’s condition improved as they fully removed his cancer, other people are being faced with similar or worse situations – situation I would never want to experience again. That is why this trip and organization is so important. My brother’s creation of Coast to Coast for Hope has given me the power to do more. I can now raise money and, equally as important, awareness about cancer research. Our trip signifies more than a non-profit that raises money for cancer. It shows that anyone can contribute to a good cause. It shows cancer victims, cancer survivors and family members of cancer cases that people are fighting for them, and that people care. My experience with this organization has already changed me as a person, and the time spent on the road will only make me stronger.stronger.

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Hayden Coon

Age: 23 years old
Hometown: Williamstown, Vermont
College: ‘06 University of Vermont: Economics
Graduate Work: Johnson State College: Secondary Education
Bicycle: Specialized Allez
Assets: Punctual, motivated and good at reading maps

I have been into just about every sport I have played since age 5. Like most kids, my bike was not a sport but rather my main form of transportation, and also made for some great scars. Doing this trip means a lot to me. Not only because I get to spend the summer doing something that is fun, but because I’m doing it to support such a good cause. Being able to tell people what I am doing and how it is helping so many people is just an amazing feeling all around, and hopefully by doing this trip we are able to raise enough awareness and money to make a significant impact on society.

I also want to thank Barbara Murphy, president of Johnson State College, for her support and financial backing. Her contribution from the Johnson State College Presidents Fund has greatly helped my fundraising efforts and the Coast to Coast for Hope team.

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Tristan Schneiter
Age: 22 years old
Hometown: Winthrop, ME
High School: Kents Hill School ‘03
College: ‘07 University of Vermont
Bicycle: Surly Cross-Check

I started cycling seriously at age 14, competing in local mountain bike races. I raced throughout high school and fell in love with the sport instantly. When I was a junior in high school, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She persevered, in what was the most vivid display of courage and strength I have ever witnessed.

I want to use this same strength, courage and will power to help spread awareness about this life threatening disease. With my love of cycling and the backing of Coast to Coast for Hope, my teammates and I will raise both awareness and money to help preserve life and contribute to the fight against cancer. It is my hope that the support garnered and the effort put forth by the five of us will help bring nation-wide awareness and support for those who have endured the terrible effects of cancer.

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Bryce Setta
College: ‘07 University of Vermont
Biography coming soon…

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Henry Stayduhar
College: ‘07 University of Vermont
Biography coming soon…

 

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2004 Participants:

 

Travis Rave
College: ‘04 Hamilton College
Hometown: Huntington, NY
Current Residence: New York, NY

 

 

2004 Ride Info:

Bicycle used: Giant hybrid with rear rack/panniers and handlebar bag

Favorite state: Colorado

Least favorite state: Missouri

Best riding day: The day we arrived on the coast. Despite being bruised and bloody from a fall, it was one of the best and most memorable days of my life.

Worst riding day: Hard to say now. Looking back, they all seem great, even the terrible ones. I guess I would have to say that day in Colorado where it just poured icy rain on us for the entire day. There was nowhere to stop, so we just had to keep on pedaling until we reached Waldon. A horrible day for sure, but it turned into a great night. Waldon was where we met Jonathon Shetler, who would ride with us for the next month. So like I said, it’s hard to pick a bad day now. They all hold some hidden joy at this point.

Prior bike experience: I had very little biking experience prior to the trip. In fact, the only riding I had ever done was recreational.

On meeting people across the US: The intense kindness of almost everyone we ran into shocked, and still shocks, me. I never thought that complete strangers would care so much and be so kind. People offered us food, lodging, showers, water, and of course donations. It was really quite heartwarming.

Travis traveling alongside a glorious site

Bicycle touring lesson learned: Bike maintenance was something I’d never truly understood. Prior to the trip, I could barely add air to my tires. Now I can change tubes and tires, switch brake pads, and even take apart and put back together an entire bike. I also realized that biking is pretty much the best way to travel: you go slow enough that you can really appreciate and get the feel for an area, and you go fast enough to actually get somewhere.

"If I could do the ride again": Though I don’t think that you can ever replicate your first trip, I can’t wait to go again. I would do it in essentially the same way: good friends, good motives, great times. I would bring less stuff though - lighten the load a bit. Next time I think I’ll try a Northern route. There’s some beautiful country up there that I still have yet to see.

Ride’s effect on outlook: The ride affected me in countless ways. The most important of which would have to be my belief in individual effort. I was shocked to realize what a difference a single person, let alone several single persons, can make. By engaging in active philanthropy, we were able to raise over $ 35,000 for cancer research. I never thought that 4 people could raise that much money. It was an eye opening experience in so many ways.

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Brian T. Alward
College: ‘04 Hamilton College
Hometown: River Edge, NJ
Current Residence: Hoboken, NJ

 

2004 Ride Info:

Bicycle used: Modified Marin Nail Trail mountain bike with front and rear rack/panniers

Favorite state: Oregon – Our "victory lap" up the coast prior to our trip’s end took us up coastal bluffs with plenty of camping right on the beach. We’d stop riding early in the day to play soccer (we even surfed one day), which was a welcomed break from one-hundred mile days and long climbs over Western mountain passes.

Least favorite state: Washington D.C. – It’s a state, right? Despite all the history, landmarks and a solitary pre-dawn tour through the city on our way out, we had a miserable time getting into D.C. via some questionable road choices and poor traffic-timing.

Best riding day: Coming over Togwotee Pass in Wyoming with the Tetons and Jackson Hole in front of us was unreal. Wyoming is a very special place.

Worst riding day: We took a detour while in Missouri thinking we could "save some time" and ended up following winding roads without shoulders well into the evening. The riding was unnerving and far worse than the day I was run off the road by a coal truck.

Brian doing some minor, late-day repairs

Prior bike experience: Before the trip, my experience comprised some mountain biking and approximately seven million hours spent riding a bicycle as a young child.

On meeting people across the US: Some people were certainly shocked to hear how far we had come on our bikes (or in some cases how far we had left to go…), but they always seemed to understand why it made sense for us to ride for cancer. Sometimes people had a heartfelt story to share, sometimes they offered a simple nod and a few words of encouragement, but we couldn’t help but feel like folks were rooting for us. That’s a pretty empowering feeling while pedaling west day after day.

Bicycle touring lesson learned: Plans will consistently fall through; equipment will fail regularly; things will fall apart. I had never really been in a situation where I had so few options when something went wrong. On the road and confronted with these tough conditions, one literally has to make it work. There is nobody to complain to and very few safety nets to fall back on, and I think learning to accept things and simply deal with unfavorable circumstances in order to keep moving on was a pretty valuable lesson.

"If I could do the ride again": I’d surely take less (pack lighter) and try to ride a bit faster, though I would use that extra time to stop and talk to people more often.

Ride’s effect on outlook: We live in a big country – a big, big country. My dad’s experience with cancer pushed me to challenge myself with something of similar scale. I am so grateful that my friends and I picked such a worthy challenge.

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Cameron Feist
College: ‘04 Hamilton College
Hometown: Vero Beach, FL
Current Residence: Clinton, NY

 

2004 Ride Info:

Bicycle used: Trek 6500 hybrid with "Bikeaboose" two-wheel trailer

Favorite state: Delaware - mostly because I know no one else will say Delaware

Least favorite state: Virginia - both because of the ridiculous hills and because it marked the end of my leg of the adventure

Best riding day: Day one, riding from Long Beach Island with Brian’s Dad.

Worst riding day: The day that we stopped at Wendy’s for lunch and I gorged myself with greasy food and then attempted to keep riding.

The infamous "Bikeaboose"

Prior bike experience: The last time I had biked before training for the trip was the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of college. I was working in NH as a camp counselor, leading a bike trip through the woods with about twenty 12 year olds following me. We had to cross a rickety bridge, which I made the campers walk over while I attempted to ride my rented bike and proceeded to fall off the side, into several feet of rushing water! That was my last experience on a bike before this trip.

"If I could do the ride again": I would love to complete the entire trip.

On meeting people across the US: While we met some "eccentric" people on the road, for the most part everyone we met was exceedingly nice and helpful. It was reassuring to see how many people really cared about what we were doing and went out of their way to help us in whatever way they could. During my brief portion on the trip, people gave us food, water, maps, books, a free night’s stay on a camp ground, and a ride across a highway bridge with no sidewalk. Bicycle touring lesson learned: Pack light, bring lots of water, and have fun. Ride’s effect on outlook: My perception of the American public has completely changed. While that sounds cheesy, it was really refreshing to meet so many helpful, genuine, selfless people on the road. Moreover, it was amazing how many people we met had been personally impacted by cancer.

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Ryan Burke
College: ‘04 Hamilton College
Biography coming soon…

 

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