Washington College Magazine
Students Take "Big Ride" Across America
A trio of students and an alumna will make an epic trek this summer: bicycling across the United States. They'll log more than 3,300 miles in seven weeks. That's a lot of pedaling, and it's all for a good cause.
Katherine Wilson '06, Spencer Case '09, Jamie Beaber '09 and Brian Gamble '10 will ride their bikes from Seattle to Washington, DC, to promote smoking cessation.
Team WC is making the journey as part of the American Lung Association's Big Ride Across America cycling event.
The stalwart cyclists' motto is, "If WE can ride across the country, YOU can quit smoking!"
Throughout the cross-country trip, riders will encourages smokers to sign a pledge to kick the habit. Upon returning to Chestertown, the group hopes to sustain interest in volunteer outreach initiatives such as this "that allow dedicated students to pursue their adventurous dreams while impacting the world in a positive way," said Spencer Case '09, a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School.
"We want not only to ride for a good cause, but also to spread the word of the fine institution to which we belong," Case said. "We want to show people across the nation that this College provides great opportunities for its students."
Not only is it a fundraiser; it's a test of endurance. The 40 participants are expected to ride each day and will average 83 miles a day for seven weeks. As they traverse America, WC's foursome hopes to visit alumni and friends in dozens of towns along the way. For a route map, visit cleanairadventures.org. Stay tuned to washcoll.edu for updates throughout the summer.
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