"Biking cross-country is something a lot of people think about, but never really do," said Chong Lee. But, not only are these 32 men and women biking cross-country, they're also making stops along the way to help build affordable housing. It's all part of a national program called Bike and Build.
"I think a lot of us have the same passion and the same feeling of helping out," said Tino Chow. "I knew affordable housing was a big deal across the country and I've always wanted to bike across the country, so this seemed like a great cross section of the two things," said Maggie Thomas.
This group's journey includes sixty-eight days of bicycling and will take more than two months. They started in Providence, Rhode Island and will end in San Francisco. "It's such a huge mental and physical challenge every day. We've gone over huge hills, mountain ranges and we still have to go over the Rockies, so it's all about helping each other out and working for a similar cause," said Thomas.
Each rider here had to raise $4,000 and everyone chips in with the building. At a house on Oregon Road in Youngstown, the group spent the morning doing some gardening and fixing the roof. "The whole thing has been a very euphoric experience for me. It's been great people, the volunteering is lovely and then the biking. It's just this tri-fecta of awesomeness. I've never really experienced anything like this. It's gone so fast. I just don't want it to be over, ever," said Natalie Serle.
The group's next stop will be in Dayton.
