Two college students from Springfield are among 32 bicycle riders who will ride more than 4,000 miles across the country to raise awareness and money for cancer research.
Marcus Eck and Liz Reynolds, both 21, will ride bicycles from New York to San Francisco. The trip, which begins May 26 and continues to Aug. 7, includes stops in Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; Chicago; and cities in several other states until riders reach the state of Washington. The route then goes south through Oregon and finally ends in San Francisco.
The riders are part of the not-for-profit organization Illini 4,000 for Cancer, which raises money for American Cancer Society and Camp Kesem at University of Illinois each year. Camp Kesem is a college-student-run summer camp for children who have a parent with cancer or who has had cancer.
Along the way, the Illini 4,000 Bike America Team will interview cancer patients to about the disease and how it affects their lives. The goal of the interviews is to show how patients respond to cancer based on their religious beliefs, location and socioeconomic status, the organization?s website states.
Bicyclists in the Illini 4,000, which is primarily composed of U of I students, have raised $280,000 since 2007.
All participants have already raised at least $3,500 for the trip.
Who are they?
Marcus Eck
The senior at U of I Champaign said he has probably logged fewer than 500 miles on a bicycle his entire life.
In fact, just last week, he was preparing for the trip on his father?s 25-year-old bicycle. His father, Phil Eck, is the longtime soccer coach at Springfield High School.
Regardless of his lack of long-distance riding experience, Eck said he?s more excited than nervous about the trip. He said he looks forward to meeting cancer patients and learning how they?ve handled the experience.
In his case, he said he?s lost an uncle to cancer, and the mother of his best friend growing up. He said he?s also volunteered at Camp Kesem and seen first hand how cancer affects families.
?(Working at Camp Kesem) has been life changing,? Eck said. ?It?s unbelievable seeing different kids come together who are all struggling with same problem have an amazing time.?
More information about Eck can be found at illini4000.org/riders/meck.
Liz Reynolds
When Reynolds gets on her bicycle in May to begin the cross-country journey, she said, she will be motivated by the people in her life who have had cancer.
Reynolds, also a senior at U of I Champaign, said she?s lost multiple relatives to the disease.
?A lot of my family members have been affected by cancer, so I thought this was a good organization to get behind and support,? she said.
Reynolds admitted she?s a little nervous about the long hours on a bicycle. She said she?s run in a marathon before, but never biked long distances. She said she?s taking the advice of friends who have completed the Illini 4,000? that she?ll be OK.
?They have nothing but good things to say about it,? she said. ?They said the first few weeks are the toughest, but once you get going, it?s more fun than anything.?
More information about Reynolds can be found at illini4000.org/riders/lreynolds.
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Want to donate?
Donations to the charity can be mailed to The Illini 4000, P.O. Box 2431, Champaign, IL 61825.
Online donations for Marcus Eck can be made at illini4000.org/riders/meck. Online donations for Reynolds can be made at illini4000.org/riders/lreynolds.
Information about business sponsorships is also available at the website.
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