Cyclist's Summer Break is a 4,000-Mile Trek

Peter Bassick decided to take a bike ride on June 3.

A 4,000-mile bike ride.

The Lake Forest resident, who is a senior mechnical engineering major at Purdue University, has joined 29 members of his national fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, in riding across the country to raise money for kids with disabilities.

But it doesn't end with just cycling.

On a typical day, Bassick and his team ride their bikes between 75 to 115 miles. Once they arrive at their destination, they begin community service with disabled kids for the balance of the day.

"It's not about me" said Bassick of the challenge, "it's about reaching out to thousands of people with disabilities along the way, and striving to spread our message of acceptance and understanding to more than 40 million people".

After leaving from San Francisco on June 3 by riding across the Golden Gate Bridge, the group completed their first big climb to Lake Tahoe (a 8,000 foot vertical climb on a ride that took more than 12 hours). A typical day starts at 5:30 a.m. and on the road by 6:30 a.m.

"This is nothing compared to what disabled kids go through each and every day of their lives," Bassick said.

Bassick's group will make their way through Lake Forest on July 18 from Milwaukee en route to an overnight stop in Glenview.

They will unite with two other teams (from Seattle and Los Angles) on Aug. 4, just outside of Washington, D.C. They will all ride in together as a united 100-plus person group to the steps of the Capital on Aug. 5.

To donate to Bassick's cause, visit the Push America Website.

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