We've got a local (Urbana-Champaign, IL) group of college students and recent grads riding from New York to California called Illini 4000 (www.illini4000.org). Their goal is to raise $100,000 for pediatric cancer research and Camp Kesem (a summer camp for children whose parents have been affected by cancer). Some of them are very new to cycling. Allison JUST started riding a few months before they left for New York. But from what we hear back from her (and on her blog
http://www.allisonacrossamerica.blogspot.com/) she's doing a great job! We got a call from her after a day of Pennsylvania Mountains... she was pooped but still hanging in there! They trained for a cross-country trek in the flatlands of Illinois, where the biggest hill is an overpass. Ouch.

Please visit their web site, read their blog, and donate a few dollars if you can. They are welcoming local riders to join them along the way. And if you happen to have or know of a backyard or church or community center able to accommodate 18 riders and their gear overnight, give them an email. I know they don’t have all their nights covered yet! Check their site for the route map.

And this is REALLY cool. They have a small documentary crew riding along with them and they’ve cranked out the trailer already. Here’s the link to see the trailer: http://filmsthatmove.com/

Thanks!
Jill