WMU duo to bike across America for Habitat for Humanity

By Elliot Novess
Western Herald

The Kalamazoo community is rallying around two Western Michigan University students who will take on a monumental challenge: biking 3,600 miles across America and building affordable homes.
Psychology major Jennifer McGinnis and elementary education major Zack Sidall are participating in the 2010 Bike and Build.  Both are involved with the Kalamazoo chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
The duo will start their ride in Jacksonville, Fla. May 27 and end their journey August 9 in San Francisco. They will ride an average of 70 miles a day.
“This is the first time we have ever done this,” McGinnis said.
“We get to bike across Texas in July.”
The Bike and Build was founded as an independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2003 that partners  with organizations that build affordable housing. Over 1,000 people have taken the journey and raised $2.3 million and put 63,000 hours into building homes.
In order to go on the Bike and Build marathon McGinnis and Sidall must raise $4,000, which will go toward a competitive grant process for affordable housing organizations across the nation. Can drives, letter campaigns and a bake sale have helped the two raise money.
Eight groups, 30 riders in each, will be traveling across different regions of the country.  Giant Bicycles will donate a bicycle to all of the riders for the trip.

During the ride they will stop once a week and help construct an affordable home with a local housing organization. A weeklong project is scheduled in New Orleans.
“My grandmother lives in New Orleans, so I am looking forward to that,” Sidall said.
The two frequent the gym and watch their diet to prepare for the grueling ride that will be accompanied with manual labor.
At the most recent Art Hop the two did a stationary bike marathon at Gazelle Sports to raise money for the trip. Other businesses in the community have also helped them prepare.  “Zoo City Cycle has helped,” Sidall said.
“They have given us discounts on bike set up and a lesson on repair.”
McGinnis said she wanted to do something more for the community as a part of her college experience. She is the co-president of the WMU chapter for Habitat for Humanity.
“I went to a [Habitat] build and said this is so much fun,” McGinnis said.
Sidall had his first experience building a Habitat for Humanity home with Americore when he was a member.
“I have been into it ever since,” Sidall said.
For more information, visit bikeandbuild.org. To make a donation to McGinnis or Sidall, go to the Bike and Build Web site, click “Donate,” and select their names.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=15461

Posted by kleonard on Mar 10 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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