A gusty crosswind greeted 23 cyclists as they pedaled their way into Worthington Tuesday morning.
Considering they'd been riding since May 30 -- when they left New York City to start a cross-country trip -- a little breeze was merely a small inconvenience. The Illini 4000 for Cancer Research, which wraps up Aug. 2 in Portland, Ore., has taken its participants -- most of whom are students at the University of Illinois -- on a trek that's been rewarding in many ways.
"We each had to raise $2,500 -- all the money is going to the American Cancer Society and Camp Kesem, a camp for children whose parents have been affected by cancer," explained Christine Melne, a University of Illinois sophomore.
While cycling across the country, the Illini 4000 Bike America Team interviews cancer patients from all walks of life. According to the Web site www.illini4000.org., "The purpose of this project is to illustrate cancer's influence on American life, and how individuals respond to cancer according to their religious beliefs, location and socioeconomic status." The team hopes to interview at least 30 cancer patients and survivors during its summer trip.
Following the conclusion of the ride, all interviews done by the team will be made accessible to researchers and members of the public for free. Selected pieces will also be included in an exhibit on the campus of the University of Illinois.
About $60,000 has been raised through the cross-country tour thus far, Melne said, with the total likely to continue growing with more than a month left in the ride.
Riders have been staying primarily in churches during their trip, and are being accompanied by a pace car. On Tuesday, they were traveling in three groups from Jackson -- they had left from Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in the morning -- to Sioux Falls, S.D. To see more of The Daily Globe, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dglobe.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.