Blessed!

Hey friends!  This is going to be a short post, since it's just my first one and I suppose it's rather late at night.  But I would like to convey to you the incredible, overwhelming gratitude I feel right now at the ways God has blessed me in the past week.First of all, it is simply enough to say that I am able to go on this trip, that I am financially and physically able to be a part of this journey, this insane undertaking at which so many marvel.  People don't believe me at first.  Sometimes they think I'm lying and that I could not possibly use a bicycle to travel from sea to shining sea.  But they are wrong; it is possible.  I have yet to comprehend the magnitude and greatness of this country, but I'm sure it will hit me once we begin.I would also like to give an update on fundraising.  Last week was a huge push for reaching $2000.  As some of you may be aware, there are checkpoints, and I was trying with all my might to tell people about the trip and send out letters and sell cookies.  But I discovered that my might was not enough.  I sell cookies in my classes and outside of sporting events, but when I add it all up, the best time to fundraise is 11pm-2am Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  That's not easy.  As I wandered the well-lit Green Street with a box of over a hundred cookies, it occurred to me time and time again to give up.  It is cold.  This is impossible, I would think.  About to head back, I'd talk to one more person, who would proceed to throw in $20.  It shocked me.  My God is a God of impossible things, and He is my strength.  He gave me courage (I'm not typically super-duper outgoing with sketchy strangers!) to talk to the people who seemed to have the least promise.  And in one day, I raised $320, including an older man with a cane who took a cookie and dropped $40 into the can.  Near tears, I realized how blessed I am!  He has given me the weighty responsibility to "provide opportunities for people to be good stewards in distributing the resources entrusted to them."  Found that quote on a site that talks about how to have the right perspective on fundraising.  One more thing... I am trying my best to avoid saying "We can do this!" but rather "God show me the way."So it seems a fitting title to my first blog post: blessed.  He has taken my fears and swept them away.  I am so hopeful and excited for the rest of the semester, that I can blow past these monetary goals and bless others in a way that He has blessed me.Love, Grace.P.S: I bought a bike on Saturday! <3  (more info coming soon!!)

Feeling Grateful

As I sit here writing some long overdue thank you notes (I am always out of stamps), I figured it’s as good of a time as ever to get this blogging started. While the ride won’t start for another 100 or so days, this journey started back in September when, in typical Kathleen fashion, I submitted my application the day before it was due. I’ve always wanted to do something out of the box and be adventurous, I just couldn’t find anything that really got to me. It’s my senior year, and I saw this opportunity as one of my last chances to really do something like this, and I can’t think of anything better than this opportunity. I hope this is just the beginning of the crazy awesome adventures in my life.So, sitting here writing these thank you notes really makes me extremely grateful for all the support I have been getting for this trip. Every single time I get a donation, I can’t resist the urge to call my parents and tell them about it.  Someone could hand me a dollar and I would still call them, because every little bit holds the same amount for me. I’m so glad that so many people have decided to support me on this adventure. I know it will not only leave a large impact on my life, but hopefully the lives of the people I will be able to interact with along the trip this summer. Insanely grateful for all who have donated. It seems like every time I think I won’t be able to do this ride I get the support from someone I wasn’t expecting and I get excited all over again. So, thank you thank you thank you! I don’t know if I can really express how grateful I am, just know I am, even if I don’t start jumping up and down and start yelling.I’ll keep you posted on future happenings, such as my level of soreness after Saturday morning training. 

Ride with I4K in Summer 2015!

The Illini 4000 is recruiting NOW for our summer 2015 ride!If you or someone you know is interested in being a part of the 2015 Bike America Team and helping in the fight against cancer, come visit us at one of our info sessions:Tuesday, February 4 (tomorrow!) in English Building 259Thursday, February 20 in English Building 259Tuesday, March 4 in English Building 259Wednesday, March 19 in English Building 303All info sessions take place at 7pm.

2014 Team!

In all the excitement of sending out donations from the 2013 Bike America Team and the process of selecting the 2014 Bike America Team, we haven't yet had the opportunity to introduce the members of next summer's ride. So, without further ado, we present the Illini 4000 Bike America Team for the summer of 2014!Eric BaehrJeffrey BogueEllen ButlerMarissa CastnerKevin DalivaGrace DeetjenShiqi FuAlex KnickerBlake LandryTyler LevyKathleen MammoserAlysha MartiniRyan NewquistChristy NicholsIsalia RamirezAnna RenardoMike SchneiderbauerShuchen SongArthur TsengAnne WaveJosh WeisbergA big congratulations goes out to them for undertaking such an endeavor, and we're excited to start preparing for another summer riding bikes and fighting cancer!

2013 Ride Donations

It’s an exceptionally exciting week for the Illini 4000! As our fiscal year comes to a close, we get the incredible opportunity to donate the funds raised by the 2013 Bike America Team. This year, we are incredibly happy to be donating $115,000, split between 7 organizations: The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, LIVESTRONG, Camp Kesem – Illinois, Dr. Brendan Harley's research group at the University of Illinois, and TLC Camp.As the Board of Directors sat together, trying to decide who we would give our money to, all I could think about is how incredibly thankful I am, how thankful we all are. Frequently, people tell me that they’re impressed that a board made up of only 9 students and a team of only 22 can possibly raise so much money, but I always want to explain to them that they have it wrong. Of course, I don’t want to do a disservice to the 2013 Bike America Team – the work that they did during the school year was phenomenal, and the impact that they made through their journey was even more so. I’m so proud of each of them, and so happy to have had them on our team.With that said, their journey and their impact absolutely would not have been possible without the support from each donor and sponsor. We at Illini 4000 are so grateful for the money, time, and hope given to our organization this year. By the time the 2014 Bike America Team crosses the Golden Gate Bridge, we hope to have raised $150,000 dollars in the fight against cancer, and I know that it will happen this year. We’re young and inspired, we have wheels that will turn, and most importantly, we have the love, hope, and support of the people we’ve met and will continue to meet, and we will always keep going. -Tory Cross, President

Application Extension and More Information Sessions

Good news!To allow a little more time for some of the folks who just found out about the organization last week at 24 hours of cycling, the application deadline for the 2014 Bike America Team has been extended until Friday October 11, 2013 at 11:59 pm. So if you weren't able to finish your application on the 30th, or just found out about the Illini 4000, there's still some time to apply. As such, we will also being having some more information sessions for those who recently found out about I4k to learn a bit more on Thursday, October 3 at 7pm in English 259 as well as Wednesday October 9 at 7pm in English 259.We're getting very excited for the coming year, and hope to see you in the upcoming interviews/information sessions!

More info sessions added!

If you haven't been able to make it out to an information session yet, we have added two more this coming week on Tuesday 9/24 at 7pm and Wednesday 9/25 at 6pm in 303 English Building. Come out and learn more about how you can get involved with the Illini 4000! The information will be the same as the meetings held earlier in the year, so if you already came to one of those you do not have to attend those this week.If you've attended some of the info sessions, or if you have gotten enough of a feel for the organization from our website, send in your applications to join the team! We are currently in the process of doing interviews for the 2014 Bike America Team, and the application deadline (Sept. 30) is fast approaching.We'll also be on the quad this Thursday for 24 Hours of Cycling Vigil! Stop by and chat with us on the sidewalk just south of the Union

More Info Sessions!

Illini 4000 will be hosting two additional info sessions this week:Tuesday 9/24, 7pm in English Building 303Wednesday 9/25, 6pm in English Building 303Come learn more about Illini 4000 and how you can get involved! Remember, applications are due September 30 at 11:59pm at illni4000.org/apply. Any questions? Contact Connor at teamdevelopment@illini4000.org!

More Info Sessions and Other Fun Things!

Hopefully the first week of classes and the long weekend have treated everyone well! As a reminder, we have another information session about the Illini 4000 and how to get involved today (Tuesday Sept. 3) at 8pm in 259 English Building. We also have another session Friday Sept. 6 at 7pm, as well as an additional session next Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 6pm, both also in 259 English Building. Info sessions run less than an hour, and they all cover the same material so you only have to come to one.After the sessions on Sept. 6 and Sept. 11 we will also be heading over to CoCo Mero to socialize and eat some frozen yogurt. Come hang out with us, chat about whatever, and get your frozen dairy fix! The more the merrier!

Upcoming Info 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. These sessions will take place:

Tuesday 8/27 from 7-8pm

Wednesday 8/28 from 7-8pm

Tuesday 9/3 from 8-9pm

Friday 9/6 from 7-8pm

All info sessions will be held in English Building 259. All of the sessions will contain the same information, so you only need to attend one.

If you are interested in applying for the 2014 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 2014 Bike America Team, apply now!  If you have any questions, please contact Connor, our Director of Team Development, at teamdevelopment@illini4000.org.

2014 Bike America Team Application!

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 today, Sunday August 26th 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!Email us with any questions about anything (bikes, cancer, what the summer's like, literally anything) at contactus@illini4000.org !Love,The Illini 4000

The Final State

Our first day riding in California was truly a memorable one. The views and downhills were absolutely breathtaking. The downhill views rivaled that of Chamberlain, SD. The climbs were tough, but we had a great group. Myself, Ben, John, Kara, Heather, and Maddy made a great, fun team. There was a lot of up and down in the ride. In the last twenty miles, I had a little fall that took me to the emergency room in Placerville, CA. A small chin laceration and a hairline fracture in my jaw were the result of the fall, which led me to a few days riding in the van to heal. Unfortunately, I did not get to do a lot more riding in the last week. I did join in on the coastal fun. I joined a group of girls in the last 20 miles into the Sonoma Coast. It was freezing along the coast. It was bittersweet knowing we were so close to the end of the ride, with just a few days left and only about 100 miles between us and the Golden Gate Bridge. I decided to ride the entire ride into San Francisco, and I am so glad I did! It was a nice ride. Though getting to the bridge and into the Bay area was so cold. I couldn't believe it at all. We all made it to the bridge and took a lot of pictures before heading over to Baker Beach, where family, friends, and champagne were awaiting our arrival. The San Francisco Illini Club awaited our arrival, as well with a great lunch. We really appreciate it!After our arrival there, Heather, Elyssa, and I headed to our hotel room. It was so nice to nap and shower in such a nice place. We then headed out to get some real clothes and get cleaned up for our awesome dinner at Lou's Fish Shack on Fisherman's Wharf. It was so nice to see all of our friends in new clothes and eating awesome food, enjoying ourselves together. I realized how lucky I am to be a part of this group and how we will share this bond and these memories for the rest of our lives!

New to Nevada

Not even a mile into our ride out of Wendover, UT, we hit the state line of Nevada. We had been warned about Nevada the previous days, so we approached with care. Though we had made it over 3,200 miles and we had seen it all by then, so we knew we could handle whatever Nevada had in store for us – heat, climbs, interstate travel, anything. Our first day in Nevada had quite a few climbs, but they were somewhat relaxing climbs, which led to some fun with Heather and Maddy. That was the day of the birth of the “Cheese Sasswich.”While in Nevada, I have truly come to understand what it is like to be thirsty. It is so hot here and I am going through water like you wouldn’t believe. It is crazy to drink about 50 ounces of water in an hour and still be thirsty. Nevada not only presented me with something new to deal with: flat tires. Yes, I finally got my first flat. And by first flat, I mean I got 5 flats in two days. I totally blame Nevada and interstate riding. All of my flats were due to the wires within truck tires on the side of the road. The following morning, we woke up at 4:30am to set out on a 103 mile ride. I rode with Heather, Jacqueline, and Elyssa. It was nice knowing about when each of the climbs were coming, because we could mentally prepare ourselves. Seeing the signs that read “Next Services: 68 Miles” was a little scary, but we were ready to face the day. We took it in stride and helped each other continue. The climbs were tough, but around mile 80, we stopped at a convenience store and bar in Golconda, NV. It was great talking with the people there. The men that frequented the bar reminded me of my grandpas, and they were so impressed with what we were doing.Though the days are long and hot, we are really enjoying our time in Nevada, meeting great people and making the most of our last few days on the road.Nevada has really allowed us to test our mental and physical strength and speed along the road. I have truly come to see how much I have grown as a cyclist while in Nevada. We were determined to finish our 73 mile day today before the sun had a chance to heat everything up again. Because of the tailwinds, downhills, and determination, we finished our 73 mile ride before 11:30am. It was quite an accomplishment.I spent that night at the Lovelock town pool. We meet so many people along the road, most, though, are adults. It was great to talk to the kids in the pool, while they asked about our tanlines and what we were doing in their pool. It was great to enjoy the cool pool in the hot Nevada weather. Our ride into Reno, on the interstate, was pretty scary and difficult, but it was good to finally arrive there and know the following day we would be hitting South Lake Tahoe, California.We were warned many times about the climb into South Lake Tahoe, but I was so happy to ride in with Je, Rishy, and Maddy. Je and Rishy are great, fast climbers. So they would speed ahead and wait for us every couple of miles, while Maddy and I just trucked along and enjoyed the gorgeous views of the climb. The downhill was pretty scary, but again, the views into California were beautiful. Lake Tahoe did not disappoint. It was truly amazing. Maddy and I even dove into the lake in our jerseys. It was so refreshing and knowing we had the following day off made it even more refreshing!

Utah - less than 1,000 miles!

I was really excited to take on a relatively flat 107 mile day with two of my close girl friends on the team. We passed the time on the road by singing, telling stories, and playing games. We dealt with headwinds and a little bit of rain and heat. By the end of the day, we crossed into Utah, and it felt like a major accomplishment. We were also a bit delirious which led to lots of laughs and joking. All in all, it was a great fun day, but we were excited to get off the bike and arrive at our campsite somewhere around Logan, UT.The following day, everyone was in great spirits. We started the day with a great Mosher, where we sat in a circle and gave the person to our right a back massage. On top of that, we had to compliment the person in front of us. It really shows just how close the team is getting. I feel so honored to be a part of this team and to grow in friendship with them. We were also in great spirits because we knew arriving in Salt Lake City meant we would have the following day off. I was most excited because I knew I would be spending my day off with my cousin, Linda Miller. This was enough to get me to SLC. The ride was great. We were on bike trails for most of the day. Though the heat was pretty tough to deal with and there was barely any breeze.  Of course, our ride ended with a huge hill climbing up to the stay-over.Salt Lake City was absolutely amazing. We stopped at the Huntsman Cancer Institute just off the University of Utah’s campus where we meet with three researchers who are beneficiaries of Damon Runyon Research Grants. We discussed research triumphs and ideas over tacos while meeting the future of cancer research. It was incredibly inspiring and motivating to meet the researchers who are using our hard earned fundraising dollars directly. I am honored to be a part of this incredible research and I pray these researchers continue to love their research and discoveries. Being with Linda was amazing. She treated me to a great salad for dinner, a pedicure, and a few drinks. It was just the taste of home I needed to get me through the last two weeks of the trip.I was also lucky to drive the van the day after the event day, which is always nice, especially on the day into Grantsville, UT. There was a crazy, steep, narrow, and rocky climb around mile 25. I was quite happy to not be on my bike, though driving the van up the mountain was also quite scary! The following day, we hit the famous Salt Flats. With some nice tailwinds and flat terrain, we were able to fly through the 95 mile day into Wendover, UT, which lies on the border of Utah and Nevada, on the cusp of the Pacific Time Zone. This is a truly bittersweet feeling, knowing we will be entering our second to last state, but we are pumped to see what Nevada has to offer!

The End of a Journey

Sixty-eight days. We’ve been together nearly 24/7 for sixty-eight days. It seems like New York City was such a long time ago, but at the same time, it feels too short. Our journey can’t be over quite yet, but we awoke to a late wakeup on the final day, we knew it to be true. We were slower, perhaps it was because there was nothing that could be done about late bags, or maybe it was because we were all in thought. Today would likely be the last time we saw all of us together as a team. We had our last bowl of oatmeal, and circled up for the last ride dedication. We dedicated the ride to Jake Grecco, an eight-year-old victim of brain cancer, and Greg’s dad, Tom Colten, who also passed from brain cancer.We formed our groups, and we were off on the seventeen mile trek to Baker’s Beach. We got a little lost, but the ride was short and uneventful. We talked and shared stories, and reminisced on past rides until we rolled up to the Golden Gate Bridge. We took pictures, both as a team and with friends. Then we crossed our final bridge. It was slow going, as we had to avoid the many pedestrians, but it was exciting to look up and see the bridge rise up to disappear above the morning fog. We followed the last few cues that wound down a hill until we saw the beach open up in front of us. Our welcoming party held up banners and played music as we rolled to a stop. We had made it. It had taken us two months, be we had ridden across the country. We were served lunch by the San Francisco Alumni Club and were welcomed by our family and friends. We took pictures, laughed, cried, and left to explore the city.Later, we met back up at Lou’s Fish Shack at Fisherman’s Warf for dinner. It was strange to see everybody in “real people” clothes. Many of us had gone shopping or had been brought clothes from their friends and family. We were able to laugh and hang out for one last night before finally saying our goodbyes and slowly going our separate ways.The 2013 Illini 4000 Bike America Team would like to thank everyone for their amazing support. Without the generosity of others, this feat could not be accomplished. We would like to thank friends, family, strangers, and everyone we met along the road for their support and encouragement. We have finished our trip with a new sense of confidence and with the addition of new friends. And now, the 2013 team can say that they are proud to join the rest of the Illini 4000 alumni.

The Penultimate Day

It's so strange to think about how today was the last full day of riding for the 2013 team! It once again started cold, cloudy, and covered in dew/mist/whatever the chilled air was filled with this morning, but after tearing down the tents (for the last time), we set out for the road. It took some time, but eventually we all regained enough motor skills in our frigid hands to pick wild blackberries along the side of the road. In what is apparently typical fashion for this part of the country, the sun came out in time for us to be escorted in style behind a pace vehicle through a bit of construction on our way to San Anselmo and our final evening spent together as a team. It’s certainly been an eventful summer, and the ride into San Francisco tomorrow will be as sad of a departure as a final push of victory.

Coast to Coast

With a cloudy and brisk start to the morning, we quickly realized the central California coast is far from the oft romanticized sun-kissed shores of So Cal. Once we had layered up with plenty of warmer clothes, we hit the road. After getting out of Napa Valley, it was back into the winding, wooded hills. We spent the morning climbing into the foggy mist and rapidly coming down a steep grade on the other side into some smaller rolling hills as the fog of the morning slowly burned off.  After some bike paths and lunch at a Mexican grocery store, we soon came to the famed California Highway 1, Bodega Bay and the nearby beaches of the Pacific Ocean. It seems like only yesterday we were stopped on the shores of New Jersey, staring into the churning waters of the Atlantic several thousand miles away. By nightfall the tents were up and we hunkered down to dine around the fire, once again facing the brisk shoreline summer temperatures blowing off the ocean at the Bodega Dunes Campground.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine

Today we departed Sacramento, where we were lucky enough to have breakfast provided by the Chinese United Methodist Church, for the grape laden land of Napa.  After navigating the maze of Sacramento traffic and some confusing cues, we were out on the road in some fantastic weather, working our way towards the rolling hills of wine country. We made our way across sunflower fields, fruit orchards, and the greatest sight for sore mid-western eyes, an errant corn field. Though the sun was hot and many of the fields were dry, before long, the canopy of the trees on the mountainside provided great shade for the beautiful, winding climb on California 121 through the hills and vineyards.  As the afternoon faded to evening, so too did the warm breezes of the afternoon fade to the chilled winds off the ocean, no longer blocked by the hills. Fortunately, before long, we shivered our way to the stayover and settled in for the evening, setting about chores and preparing for the trek to the ocean the next day.

Farmers and Palm Trees

Today our team rode 70 miles from Pollock Pines to Sacramento.  Compared to yesterday’s ride, today was pretty flat.  In fact, the team climbed 5,000 feet yesterday and only about 500 today.  In addition to a flat route, the majority of the ride was on beautiful bike trails.  After a tougher ride yesterday, we were more than happy to have a relatively easy ride, away from the traffic on the streets.  A highlight of the day was riding through Placerville.  In Placerville, the team stopped at a farmer's market!  It was full of fresh fruit and baked goods.  We talked to the various vendors and gave out business cards. Some people even received free food! Needless to say, we all enjoyed the short snack stop at the market.  As we got closer to Sacramento, the temperature slowly climbed.  When we arrived at our stay over, though, we were greeted by a sprinkler system.  It was a great way to cool off quickly after a hot day on the bike.  In other news, we only have 4 more days left till we arrive in SAN FRAN!!!!A special thanks to the Chinese United Methodist Church for letting us stay at their church and for cooking us a great barbecue dinner!  Your hospitality and generosity are greatly appreciated.