North AmericaMichelle DellerAugust 31, 2023adventurefundraising, east coast cycling, cycling adventures, cycling, bikes, bike ride, bike tourComment

Miles for Adventures

North AmericaMichelle DellerAugust 31, 2023adventurefundraising, east coast cycling, cycling adventures, cycling, bikes, bike ride, bike tourComment

In 2017, I started volunteering with LIFECYCLES, an organization that mentors teens through cycling. Since then, I’ve been on 5 long-distance rides and countless weekly rides with fellow volunteers and teens. The growth of LIFECYCLES has been exponential and the experiences monumental. Lives have been impacted by the cycling challenges, conversations on and off the bike, and relationships formed through the shared experiences.

My most notable adventure with LIFECYCLES was in 2021 when 8 young men, 3 leaders (me being one of them), and 2 support vehicle drivers made our way across America. The motto of LIFECYCLES is “Do Hard Things” and we certainly lived that out on our journey from Oregon to Delaware. This trip began filling my map of the U.S. with lines of long-distance routes cycled.

These map lines have set in motion another goal: To ride my bike down the east coast. I’ve already completed several sections of this route, and have decided it’s time to mark off another big section. In October, I will turn 49 years old ( I guess it’s time to own my age) and I’m feeling the need to make this last year in the 40s epic. I entered the 40s a few days after climbing Kilimanjaro to raise funds for water projects in Tanzania through Compassion International, which set off a whole series of future adventures and the eventual formation of Steep Adventures (my company to organize adventures to raise funds for charitable causes). So, it only seems right to exit my 40s in a similar way this decade began, with another adventure that will challenge me and help to raise support and awareness for a charitable cause.

The adventure: Bike 577 miles from Philadelphia, PA to Wilmington, NC

The cause: LIFECYCLES - all of the teens that show up for weekly rides are able to use a bike and attend adventures without paying to participate, and receive mentoring from adults

The goal: $15,000 to support several summer week-long challenge rides

Donate

Getting teens outside, enjoying the great outdoors, and challenging themselves to do hard things through cycling adventures does more than we know to build character and grit in the lives of these young men and women. I’m a firm believer in getting kids outside and exploring, just ask my nieces and nephews who have all experienced Aunt Michelle adventures. As I challenge myself to ride from Philly to NC, I appreciate you helping me raise funds so other teens can challenge themselves to ride great distances and prove they can do hard things.