You may have noticed many long-distance cyclists in the city on Wednesday and early Thursday morning. These 77 visitors are riding their bikes all the way from Austin, Tex., to Anchorage.
The cyclists are members of the charity group Texas 4000 For Cancer, an organization that focuses on raising awareness of and fundraising for cancer research and support services.
Today, the group members have completed 62 days of their 70-day odyssey, which is the world’s longest annual charity bike ride.
“Everyone is on the road 18 hours a day,” Joshua Bedingfield, one of the community engagement members with the group, told The Yukon Star on Wednesday afternoon. Those hours include riding bikes, logistics, meeting people, and spreading awareness.
“Man, it’s challenging from logistics; like, everyone has to get fed, needs a place to stay, and there’s a crazy amount of biking, so injuries happen all the time, and getting the bike fixed, like all of those things and learning along the way,” he said.
Though there have been challenges, he said, everyone participating has found it meaningful, not only because they can learn new things, but also because they could help people.
The ride was created 20 years ago by Chris Condit, who had cancer, and he started the bike ride to Alaska to raise awareness about the dreaded disease.
Cyclists were split into three teams to finish different routes – Sierra, Rockies, and Ozarks – and reunited in Whitehorse.
This is Bedingfield’s first visit to Canada.
“It’s beautiful; honestly, this scenery has changed so much. We started in Saskatchewan, went west towards Regina, then Saskatoon, Edmonton, and then up into the Northern Rockies. It’s just been beautiful, really nice people, and of course, you know, Tim Hortons,” he said.
There were also recognitions and heart-touching moments along the way that added layers of meaning to what he’s doing.
“I think this has been the most fulfilling summer of my life,” Bedingfield said. “Meeting people along the way and you run into someone in the gas station and I had so many people come up to me and say, ‘I lost my mom to cancer,’ or “I have cancer,’ and to make that moment for people, and also a moment for myself and the team, feels right to be here.”
Danielle Berman, one of the other cyclists with the team, said this trip is a life-changing one for her, not only because she learned more life skills, but also because of the people she met.
Compared to driving or flying to a new place, she feels it’s a privilege to slow down and really watch the world this way.
As physically demanding as this trip is for her, the bike riding is the easiest part of the whole trip.
“The hardest part is figuring out where we’re going to stay, figuring out where we’re going to eat, where we are going to get water, getting everyone on time,” said Berman.
