Family, friends, loved ones, and sweet-hearted strangers:
It is with pride and elation that we—Vicky Camp and Dawn Cothran—announce our intentions to fundraise for the local non-profit Trips For Kids WNC by riding our bicycles across the United States this Fall.
Begun in 1986, Trips For Kids is an international organization, first started in
Why Are We Doing This?!
Vicky: I am planning to bicycle across the USA
My recent addiction to cycling began with a road trip out West about 14 years ago. My husband, Ken, 17 year old stepson, Scott, and I decided to drive to Santa Fe, NM on a short vacation. That’s when I discovered mountain biking in the desert. Out of the blue Scott asked us if we could rent some mountain bikes and go for a ride. We stopped at a local bike shop, rented 3 bikes and a bike rack for the car and with minimal knowledge went to the closest trails. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Hours later we made it back to our car dehydrated and hungry, but somehow exhilarated by the great adventure. I was hooked to cycling again, but now as an adult.
Dawn and I would like to share our adventure across the United States
Dawn: I have been riding bikes ever since I was a wee little thing. However, it wasn’t until I went on my first mountain bike ride 8 years ago that I discovered the extreme excitement and bliss of flying down a mountainside, feeling entirely out of control, drool flying down the side of my cheek as I smiled and laughed so openly, unable to shut my mouth, the charm and allure of the forest surrounding me. That’s the day I fell in love with it. Since then I have been fortunate to explore dirty trails both regionally close and out west, my passion fueled, fired and expanded upon. For over five years now it has been my dream to ride my bike across the U. S. I’m looking forward to enjoying the slow beauty of our countryside, earning my way through a long honest sweat, and crossing paths with all the facets of human kindness and raw truths along the way.
We will be self-supporting ourselves—which entails carrying all of our sleeping and living gear, as well as food--from the coast of California to Virginia Beach, Virginia, beginning in late August of 2011. Our goal is to raise as many funds as possible. We are looking to be extremely frugal as we pedal, living off of peanut butter sandwiches and camping for free most of the time. However, we do anticipate a decent accrual of expenses. The accumulated cost of food for 6-8 weeks (likely our biggest expense!), an occasional splurge on a shower in a campground, shipping our bikes across the country, airfare, and any mechanical issues our bikes may encumber are our biggest financial concerns. We have already purchased our bikes and are writing a couple of gear companies to help us with our equipment needs. We desire to fundraise in order to help offset these costs, but also to take advantage of a beautiful opportunity to help raise money and awareness for Trips For Kids WNC, an organization with a will to help make this world a little bit better of a place, an organization we stand proudly and honorably behind.
We would also like to note that we will be updating a blog of our journey http://www.touringirls.blogspot.com/ in order to share our experiences with any and all that want to travel along with us. There will also be a link to this through the Liberty Bikes website http://www.libertybikes.com/, an award winning bike shop that we are both current employees of.
Truly it is the heart and soul of folks like you that make the change and good in this world manifest; thanks for any and all that you can give, however small or hearty.
Many Smiles and Much Gratitude,
Vicky Camp
Dawn Cothran
