Biking an average of 80 miles a day for two full months, Elon University sophomore Dani Schenk will travel across the southern United States this summer to raise money for a national nonprofit agency that builds homes for low-income families.
“Mr. Fuller just described the bike ride and what it was for,” Schenk said, “and I just had one of those moments where I said, ‘I should do that.’”
The riders’ goal is to raise $100,000 and Schenk’s personal goal is to reach $4,000. She is sending 90 percent of what she collects to areas that need it most, probably overseas, and 10 percent to one of the towns they’ll be visiting during the trip.
Through The Fuller Center, homes are repaired or built and sold to the owners in an affordable way based on no-profit, no interest loans. Homeowners join volunteers in building their own homes. Fuller founded the center as an ecumenical Christian ministry and a way to help eliminate substandard housing in the United States and abroad.
Schenk found inspiration in what Fuller said during his visit: “Sometimes you just know when you’re meant to do something.”
The idea of the trip caught her immediate interest, so she called her parents and asked if it was crazy to bike for two months across the county. They said no – she could do it.
Prior to the trip, she had biked only for recreation, so she bought a road bike and began training while at Elon. “What you have to do to train is just put time on a saddle,” she said. That’s the only way to get used to the soreness.
Schenk reminds herself that after a week or two, she’ll be OK. Her aunt, who also rides, persuaded her to go the whole way. She told Schenk the first three weeks are the hardest, so once she gets over those, it will be smooth riding.
Schenk’s faith and the ride’s message of strength and helping others will sustain her.
“I know that I’m riding for something that’s bigger than me,” she said. “And I can suck it up and take the pain.”
The ride has persuaded her to become more involved in Habitat for Humanity at Elon next year, and to also join the cycling club.
Schenk will be doing her own laundry and cooking, and will stay mostly in churches and YMCAs. She only has her riding gear, laptop, camera and iPod.
Beyond riding, the volunteers will focus on their faith for an hour each day and stop to build homes in Albuquerque, N.M.; Terrell, Texas; Shreveport, La.; Lanett, Ala.; and Americus, Ga.
“I’m really excited for New Mexico and Arizona,” she said. “I just feel like they’re so different from the East Coast.”
Colorado will be most difficult because of the Rockies, Schenk said. She’s excited for whichever state is mostly downhill.
– Written by Ashley Barnas ’10
(For more information on the bike trip, including ways to offer financial support for the Fuller Center, click on the link below.)