Fundraising, training, and other fun endeavors!

So this is my first blog post, and I'm mainly posting it to test out the site's blog function and to say THANKS to all of my amazing donors out there! (Though you'll be getting a more personalized thanks in the mail soon!)In other news, i4k has gotten off to a quick start this semester! We've been training multiple times a week and I am more sore than I ever thought I could be. But it is a good sore! I love the indoor trainings because it is really nice to have a reason to drag myself to the gym, but I can't wait until the weather gets nice enough for us to do outdoor rides. Woo! We've also all been pretty active with fundraising, because our second deadline is this Saturday! I'm about to send out another round of letters, and I know multiple team members have been 'canning' and organizing other forms of fundraisers! Keep your eyes peeled for more updates as we get closer to the beginning of our trip! :)

Back to School for the 2013 Team

The 2013 Bike America Team is officially into its spring semester! We had our first meeting and will soon be at the ARC for training sessions. Thank you to Campus Recreation for having us!On top of this, we’re happy to introduce two new members to the team: Matt Soltys and Charles Miericke. We’re very excited to have them on the team!The winter months are always the longest, though the team will soon have their bikes on campus. We’ll be riding in no time though for now, safety is key and is what we’ll be teaching the 2013 Team in the months ahead. Stay tuned for upcoming events, such as the Portraits Gallery and 24 hours of Cycling! Also, the 2012 Annual Report will be coming soon!

2012 Donations

The Illini 4000 Board of Directors is pleased to announce our 2012 Donations!This year, we were able to donate $120,000! $90,000 went to cancer research and $30,000 to patient support services. 2012 Donations were allocated as follows:Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation: $45,000American Cancer Society: $40,000Livestrong Foundation: $20,000Camp Kesem Illinois: $10,000Dr. Brendan Harley (University of Illinois): $5,000We would like to thank you all again for your support. Because of your generosity, the Illini 4000 has been able to donate over half a million dollars over the past six years! We look forward to reaching our goal of raising another $150,000 this year!Stay tuned for our Fall Newsletter and official announcement of the 2013 Bike America Team!

2013 Application Deadline Extended!

For all interested in applying to be on the 2013 team, the application deadline has been extended to 11:59pm on Sunday, October 14th!To access the application, click here!If you want to be a part of the 2013 Bike America Team, apply now!Our next information session will be on Thursday, October 4th at 7pm in 1065 Lincoln Hall.Email us with any questions about anything (bikes, cancer, what the summer’s like, literally anything) at contactus@illini4000.org !

2013 Application Due September 30th!

For anyone interested in applying to be on the 2013 team, applications are open now!To access the application, click here: http://illini4000.org/application/Application is due by September 30 at 11:59 PM, so definitely apply soon! Also, we have one more info session, at Lincoln Hall 1065 at 7 PM, and join the board of directors for froyo at Cocomero immediately after the info sess. Email us with any questions about anything (bikes, cancer, what the summer's like, literally anything) at contactus@illini4000.org !Love,The Illini 4000P.S. Check us out on Champaign's ABC News Channel 15:http://www.wicd15.com/news/features/spotlight/videos_sunrise/wicd_vid_74.shtml

24 Hours of Cycling Vigil

Come support the Illini 4000 for Cancer as they cycle on the Quad for 24 hours!On the Quad at the Anniversary Plaza, located on the South side of the Illini Union, Illini 4000 alumni will take turns cycling on stationary trainers for a total of 24 hours, from Thursday to Friday (9/20-9/21), noon to noon.The event serves as a tribute to and a memorial for those who have been affected by cancer. The vigil will showcase the Portraits Project, a collection of narratives that illustrate how Americans respond to cancer, and passers-by will be able to share their experience as a contribution to the project.Thank you!

Upcoming Information Sessions

First of all, thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth on Quad Day. It’s great to see so many people excited to hear about this organization!Over the next couple of weeks, The Illini 4000 will be holding several information sessions to tell you more about the mission of our organization and our annual cross country bike ride. We will also be happy to answer any questions you may have. The dates for these sessions are scheduled for:Tuesday August 28th @ 7pmWednesday August 29th @ 7pmTuesday September 4th @ 8pmWednesday September 5th @ 8pmThursday September 13th @ 6pm **Allen Hall South Rec Room**Monday September 24th @ 7pmEach of these sessions should last about 20-30 minutes and will be held at 1065 Lincoln Hall, located on the west side of the main quad. They will all contain the same information, so you only need to attend one session.Anyone interested in applying for the 2013 Bike America Team, you are strongly encouraged to attend an Information Session to understand the expectations that will be placed upon you over the next year. If you are sure you wish to be part of our 2013 Bike America Team, Apply Now. Please make sure you read over the Rider Contract before submitting your application. If you have any questions, please contact Connor, our Director of Team Development, at teamdevelopment@illini4000.org.

Come Check Out the Illini 4000 at Quad Day!

The Illini 4000 is recruiting again, looking for people interested in helping in the fight against cancer. The Illini 4000 will be at Quad Day, Sunday August 25th from 12 to 4 pm ready to tell you about the mission of our organization and our cross country bike ride. Come find us so you can sign up for our mailing list and so we can tell you about our upcoming information sessions and answer all of your questions.  We can't wait to see you!If you are ready, you can Apply Now!Feel free to email us with any questions at contactus@illini4000.orgHope to see you soon!~The Illini 4000 Board of Directors

See you, San Francisco

Right now I'm sitting on my plane out of San Fran trying to make time pass...(the flight has been delayed for 3 hours!) It's finally hitting me that the trip is actually over. After months of waking up and getting on your bike, it starts to become completely normal. I guess you start believing that biking is your new life and the friends you eat oatmeal with will always be there to keep you company. I never expected to miss it all so soon but I definitely do. These past few months will be hard to top. Even though we were technically doing the same thing all the time, every day was a new adventure. The landscape constantly changed and we barely slept in the same place twice. I met people each day and listened to a million stories.  It's incredible to see how others define and experience life in 19 different states. Just watching and listening to people from across the US helped me figure out who I want to be.Carrying my aunts necklace  in my saddle bag across the country made me feel ready to ride each morning. She's the one who got me through the toughest climbs and the windiest days and it was all worth it for her. Seeing my family in Missoula was one of the best parts of the trip. After weeks of traveling it was nice to experience relatives who are familiar, warm, and connected to her. My last night in Missoula it stormed for a short time before all of sky turned bright pink and I couldn't help but think the sky was changing for her. The sunset that night was one I don't think I'll ever forget. We  learned this summer that cancer is everywhere we are and it feels really good to know that we gave people hope for the future on our journey. I wouldn't trade the sweat or exhaustion for anything. Other Notes:I learned a lot from strangers this summer, but I learned just as much from my teammates who I can now call my friends. I don't know how I would have done this without them. Not only because they are amazing but also because they are much better at paying attention to cues and directions than I am...It's incredible to see the country from two wheels and I think this trip has definitely given me a sense of patriotism and loyalty that I've never felt before. Also Megan and Cassie, if you're reading this you are the best older sisters anyone could ask for. Thanks for being there to greet me in San Fran!! #sistertrip 

Don't Cry Because it's Over; Smile Because it Happened.

Greetings I4K supporters!Today, the team left Pastor Matt's house in San Rafael, CA to bike a short (but confusing!) 17 miles to the Golden Gate Bridge. After a delicious breakfast, we sat in our last morning circle of the trip, with everyone obviously experiencing bittersweet emotions about the trip ending. We decided to do a group ride dedication today, dedicating our ride to the friends and families of the riders who have been touched by cancer. After taking an incredibly high number of photos right before crossing the bridge, we rode as the whole team for the last time to cross the Golden Gate Bridge together. We were graciously welcomed into the Crissy Field by the San Francisco Alumni Club. Most of us had families and friends waiting for us at the park, meaning we were greeted by an uncountable number of hugs, both from our families and from the other members of the team. As our last time as a whole team, we enjoyed spewing out just about every inside joke we have (nailed it!), laughing hysterically while our families watched us in complete confusion. We chowed down on a wonderful Chicago-style meal provided by the alumni club, which was magnificent!We took our final team photo together in front of the Golden Gate, filling the air with screams and cheers. Mass hugging ensued, providing some of us with the final opportunity to hug for a very long time (congrats to our graduates, as well as those going back to their home countries!). All of those hugs were made with the promise that more would come as soon as possible. Soon, we started to disperse to head our separate ways, which included more hugs, some tears, and a whole lot of love.As the ride has gone by, it's become extremely evident to all of us as a team that this ride wouldn't be possible without all the support we receive along the way. From the very beginning, we've been blessed with all the support from our families, beginning with allowing us to partake in this crazy adventure and continuing all the way until today, providing help and love for the entire journey. Thanks to so many of our friends for everything they did for us, from fundraisers to spreading the word about the cause to the moral support. HUGE thanks to the churches, schools, and other stayovers who showed us so much hospitality, between providing us a place to sleep to sometimes providing food to all the prayers that we were blessed to have. The number of times that we said "Best stayover ever!" was extremely high, and we can't show enough appreciation for that. Thanks to the alumni and the board for preparing us to make it across the country, as well as providing us with assistance in every way they could.Special thanks goes out to the people we've met along the way: the ones who donated from car windows, in gas stations, and walking down the street. Thanks to those people who shared their stories of love, pain, and inspiration with us, trying to help us with document the American cancer experience. Thanks to the people who cheered us on from their homes and the other cyclists who helped us out along the way. Our team has a lot of people to be grateful for, and we appreciate everything that's been done for us to make this absolutely incredible summer possible. Mostly, thanks to everyone who believed in us. Love forever and always,The 2012 Illini 4000 Team

Rolling on the Shoulders of Giants

In 2002, a ten-year-old Kenny Shaevel stumbled upon the Academy Awards while channel surfing. Fascinated by the rewarding of talent, I watched with scintillation. When Halle Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress, she spoke with extreme emotion about how she stands on the shoulders of all the African-American actresses who came before her. For a child, this idea was novel: so much of what was great about the world I lived in, I realized, I owed to the progress of someone who came before me.As our trip comes to a close, my mind is forced to reflect on the past 74 days, and I find that I often wander back to this idea. The very bike I'm riding on, from the handlebar tape to the drive set, is the culmination of thousands of engineers' work; the paved roads on which we roll are made of materials whose composition has been refined over decades of driving; the 2012 Illini 4000 ride was based largely on the efforts of the five previous rides. I am proud of all that I've accomplished on this trip, but I have to give credit where credit is due. I am rolling on the shoulders of giants who came before me.And yet, this goes both ways. I am (well, we all are) a giant in the making, and this very thought makes me smile. Countless people's work went into making this summer's ride even happen, and countless more made it a success. The main purpose of this ride is to fundraise money for cancer research. We are fighting cancer, and this ride is a step in the battle; we are moving us all one step closer to finding a cure. We may be rolling on the shoulders of giants, but we are becoming giants ourselves.

Nearing the Gold(en Gate Bridge)

After a second 5am wake-up and a lovely Mosher of Jun and Lola singing A Whole New World in Japanese, we headed out from Healdsburg to San Rafael, CA.  It would be our last destination before San Fran and so our last night we would be spending together as a team (at least on this 74 day adventure).  Our whole team would probably say the best part of today was welcoming Janky (Patrick) back.  He has been missed for sure!  Also a monumental moment was eating at the legendary In-n-Out Burger, arriving there right as they opened and trying out animal style fries.  Also a big thanks to Pastor Matt for opening up his amazing house to all of us, and the church community for making us a delicious taco bar dinner.  Tonight is definitely bittersweet.  The trip is winding down which is sad but we are all super excited to bike across the Golden Gate Bridge tomorrow and finally 4500 miles later arrive in San Francisco!  Can't wait to see all of our family and friends =)P.S. Thank you David Walder for driving for us today!!With love,I4K

72 Down, 2 To Go!

Greetings all!Today we began our ride bright (or rather dark) and early in Laytonville, California. The team started out with a dual dedication both to a rider's friend, Chelsea, who was struck by an automobile while riding her bike and to a 2010 I4Ker and cancer survivor, Steve Odon. The day then preceeded through 95 miles of California wine country and ended in Healdsburg, California at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The team was then fortunate enough to receive a donation of a pizza dinner from a rider's mother, AnnMarie Cross.With only two days left before our journey concludes, we salute you, and bid you adeiu.Love always,The Illini 4000

Yay Learning!!

First off, HOLY THREE DAYS LEFT!! It seems so insane that after 73 days together (including those hours on the train!), in 3 days, we'll go our seperate ways. Some people are roadtripping, some flying. Some going back to school, some entering the workforce, some going back to their home countries (we love you, Jun and Young!). In my case, my mom and I will be doing some extra traveling, going to see LA, where I was born, then the grand canyon, with some friends and family visit in between!Part of my goal for this summer was to try to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life. Some days, I kind of just want to tour on my bike forever. No feeling beats the joy of biking over the crest of a mountain, and looking back at everything you just climbed. In reality though, I've been trying for a very long time to decide what I want to do as a career. Do I want to research neuroscience, and spend my days playing with brains? Do I want to go to Med school, and get to play doctor everyday? Do I want to fight cancer in some unique, unknown way?For some reason, I've never considered nursing. Don't get me wrong, I've always found it to be a perfectly noble profession. I think nurses are super, super useful, and are generally full of love and other beautiful things, but for some reason, they've never fallen into my list of possible things to do with my life. Two major things have changed that for me.First, living with Kristen has been absolutely awesome. I love watching her do her nurse stuff whenever there's cuts or scrapes or sniffles. She's been an absolute angel, answering all my questions along the way about what nursing school was like and what she expects her job to be like and why she went into nursing. (She also provides all those answers for Casey. We're a curious lot. Thanks Kristen!!!) She's done a ton to help me understand what I should be expecting, as well as trying to help walk me through what I love about neuro and what I would love about nursing and basically helping me in every way she can.Secondly, I've been blessed enough to sit in on most of the portraits (best static chore everrrrr).very single time, I learn. I learn something new, about cancer, about myself, about life. Lately, I've been lucky enough to learn about something that's always been a huge part of my life-caretaking. I've spent most of my life taking care of sick animals and sick people and doing general care-taking-ish things. Sometimes, all I think I have left to learn is actual medical procedures (teenager syndrome taking over). But thanks to the portraits, I've learned more than I ever couldve imagined. Care taking is so much more than giving medicine and taking vitals. It means talking to them and holding their hand when they're scared. Being there when no one else is. Giving them someone to laugh to or scream at or cry with. I owe enormous thanks to every portrait who has helped me realize how much it really means to be a caregiver, and for opening my eyes to why I should be a nurse.I guess what I really should say is: Mom, Dad... I'm going into nursing!

"I'd Rather Be Hunting"

Greetings all!Today we began our morning tearing down camp in the redwoods. We then traveled along the Avenue of the Giants before spending much of our day on 101S. It was a hilly ride with the temperature steadily increasing throughout, but the groups ended the day putting another seventy or so miles behind them. San Francisco now lies less than two hundred miles ahead of us! As we settle in at the Community Christian Church for the night and our ever long journey nears the end, we bid you goodnight and happy riding; onward and southward.Love always,The Illini 4000

Bigfoot for Governor!

Greetings campers!Today we find ourselves in the glorious redwoods of Humboldt National Park in California. This morning we set off from First United Methodist Church in Eureka, CA. The cold ocean air was full of fog and mist (as with most of our mornings on the coast) but as we traveled mere miles inland, we began shedding layers and quickly found ourselves in the hot and sunny weather of the redwoods. The trees towered above us as we rode the fifteen or so miles on the Avenue of the Giants which led to our campsite right beneath the trees.As the sun begins to set and we settle in for the night, we can't believe we are only four days away from reaching San Francisco. See you there.Much love,The Illini 4000

Pacific Ocean!

We absolutely made it from coast to coast.  Although we have 5 days left until we cross the Golden Gate Bridge... we pedaled our way from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.  For some reason the Pacific was 10 times more exciting.  Maybe because it actually smelled like salty ocean, there were real ocean waves crashing on the rocky shores and sandy beaches, and the misty overcast weather was the northwest Pacific at its best.  There is no real way to describe the overwhelming feeling of seeing the coast except for that it is safe to say we all felt like total bada**es that just conquered mountain ranges, dry hot deserts and riding through the windsurfing capitol of the world.  Heck yes, we did that.  The next few days are extra credit in our heads and more of a scenic redwood bonus.  I cannot believe I4K world will be over in 5 days.  As much as some of us need a break from all of it, I am positive I will be missing my bike and all my new friends.  69 days down, 5 days to go!  Bring it on.

2024 Team Fundraising Total: $60,000

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The Illini 4000 • PO Box 2431 Champaign, IL 61825 • The Illini 4000 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.