Illini 4000
Illini 4000 is a student-run, 503(c)(3) nonprofit organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
In the summer of 2017, I biked from New York City to San Francisco with 26 teammates. The journey took us 76 days and 4,715 miles. We raised over $100,000 for cancer research and patient support services, with our beneficiaries including ​the American Cancer Society, the Damon Runyon Foundation, Camp Kesem, the B+ Foundation, and the Prairie Dragon Paddlers.
Fighting Cancer on Two Wheels
A team photo at Union Station before we boarded the train to New York City with our bikes and gear, where our ride was to begin
Several of us volunteered to wear wristbands stamped with "No Stomach for Cancer" and document their journeys across the country in support of the eponymous organization
The penultimate day of our ride
A team photo at Union Station before we boarded the train to New York City with our bikes and gear, where our ride was to begin
Our Summer
We were met with many challenges throughout the summer, but each day, we dedicated our ride to a survivor of cancer, to someone battling cancer, or to the memory of somebody who had lost their battle.
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The sense of community we developed over the summer was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Churches and community centers opened their doors and hosted countless potlucks to welcome us and support the fight against cancer.
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This is a glimpse into our summer as the 2017 Bike America team.