North Mason Chamber of Commerce :: Riding4Hope from Coast to Coast

Update: Riding4Hope from Coast to Coast,
Trip Nearly Complete!

The Riding4Hope team has entered their 10th state, cycled past the 3,000 mile mark and are looking forward to Sunday August 9th when they reach their final destination in Virginia Beach, VA! Over the past month the Mackovjak trio have been cycling across the US and visiting the hometowns of many. The outpouring of support from locals has been overwhelming for the Riding4Hope team. In nearly every town not only are their hotel rooms compensated, but restaurants graciously pay for their meals too-which is a tall order because the team burns up thousands of calories biking an average of 100 miles a day!

The past month has been a learning process and fun time for the team, as only this 43-day biking trek cross country can entail. Taking a look back the team has encountered many interesting things while being out on the open road and enjoyed some well rounded scenery. The team has visited the Grand Coulee Dam, Yellowstone National Park and when they reached Buena Vista, CO they went whitewater rafting, David says his number one goal is to keep the trip fun! There has even been time to fit in some educational tidbits, as the team was cycling through Chester, IL they learned that it was home to Popeye-the cartoon creator, Elzie C. Segar was born in Chester. Needless to say the trip has been a lot of fun for the team, even their trusty side-kick and vehicle support driver, Skip, has been enjoying his time on the road-there are many pictures of him relaxing in a lounge chair, just the way retirement is meant to be spent!

Making the trip even more sentimental for the father-son trio is the fact that last Friday, July 31 John and James celebrated their 17th birthday-by cycling 80 miles and giving a presentation at the Devers Youth Center Boys & Girls Club, located on Ft. Knox! What an amazing way to spend a birthday, riding cross country and raising funds and awareness for two non-profit organizations you believe in-amazing young people.

Now that the team is in their last week of cross country riding, they are ecstatic with what they have done so far. They have met other cyclists along the way and townspeople who will remain their friends for years to come. The team's trip will officially end on Sunday, August 9th in Virginia Beach, VA where they will ceremonially dip their front wheels into the Atlantic Ocean symbolizing the end of their trip from the West coast to the East. Then on Monday the team will visit the NAS Oceania Unit: Navy MWR Mid Atlantic Boys & Girls Club where they will celebrate their journey and spend time with Club kids, talking with them about the importance of keeping physically active, practicing bicycle safety and following your dreams. So far the team has visited 4 Boys & Girls Clubs along their journey-and the youth have been really interested in the team's efforts. During most of the presentations the team also performs some bicycle "maintenance" for the kids, from fixing flat tires to adjusting bicycle seats; the Riding4Hope Team is always ready to help where needed!

On behalf of all of the staff, board members, volunteers and Club members at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, thank you to the Riding4Hope team for being so dedicated to our cause and raising funds and awareness for our organization. To date the Riding4Hope Team has raised over $8,500 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound and the Wounded Warrior Project. A special thank you to all of the donors who supported the journey and helped make it become a reality; Costco, Erika Mounts Photography, First Financial Services, Helix Creative, Imagine If Woodworks, Imagery Graphics, Knights of Columbus, Old Town Custom Framing & Gallery, Ed Olsen and Kathy Riley, Facchina Global Services, Captain Charles and Teresa LaSota, Parker Financial LLC, Fox Envelope, Peninsula Subaru of Bremerton, Kathleen and Robert Reynolds, Silverdale Cyclery, Silver City Restaurant and Brewery, Jackie and Kevin Sumner, Taco Bell and KFC-Peter Braun, West Sound Cycling Club and 1010 Graphx.

For more information, daily journal entries and to find out how you can support the team please visit www.riding4hope.org.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound benefits 13,150 children and teens at nine branches and 14 outreach sites in Pierce, Mason, and Kitsap Counties. The Clubs offer programs designed to enhance personal growth and education, tutoring, computer skills, delinquency prevention, the arts, sports training, league involvement, and much more. Through quality professional staff and a fun, positive environment, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound assist thousands of kids in developing much needed life skills, self-esteem, and positive values. For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, please call (253) 502-4600 or go online to www.bg-clubs.com.

Here's the first article we shared on Riding 4Hope:

This summer a father and his two sons are traveling from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, visiting 10 states in 43 days. This trio isn't riding in a car, jetting in a plane, or sitting on a train…they are bicycling across the US for a purpose greater than their own.

These dedicated cyclists, David Mackovjak and his 16 year old twin sons James and John, are biking from their hometown in Silverdale, WA to their ending destination in Virginia Beach, VA. Since their departure on June 28 the team has been averaging a distance of 100 miles a day. The team is not only cycling because they thoroughly enjoy it and consider it a personal quest, but they are also raising funds and awareness for their two favorite charities; the Wounded Warrior Project and the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound.

David Mackovjak is a retired US Naval Submarine Officer of 21 years and can relate to the difficulties faced when living a military lifestyle, from the missed holidays and birthdays to the long months spent away from family and loved ones, he understands first hand the sacrifices made by all men and women in the service. That is why he and his sons chose to give back to the Wounded Warrior Project for their efforts in helping to rehabilitate wounded soldiers returning home from war.

The team also wanted to give back to their local Boys & Girls Clubs by visiting 5 Clubs throughout their 43 day trek to speak with youth about the importance of bicycle safety, keeping physically active and following their dreams. "The organizations really go hand-in-hand for the betterment of the country," David explained.

After 17 days on the road, many uphill climbs and mornings with temperatures starting out in the early 40's the team is in great spirits and has many adventures to share! On July 1 they made their first Boys & Girls Club appearance at the Fairchild Air Force Base Youth Center in Spokane, WA. While there the team had the chance to meet with all of the youth and staff, enjoyed a nice fruit lunch and even took some group photos with the kids. After the Club visit the team headed over to the base to get haircuts for John and James, they decided that in such hot weather they needed shorter hair! From there the team got back onto their bikes and traveled the remaining 15 miles to their hotel for the evening.

On day 12 the team cycled through Yellowstone National Park, where they had the rare opportunity to see, feel, hear and experience nature first hand, as David says, "The only other way is by hiking through the park. But I figure this way I at least have half a chance to out bike the bears!" After visiting Old Faithful the team was on their way to Jackson Hole, nearly 30 miles in the distance. From gusty head-on winds to road kill in their path, this team has definitely had a generous serving of what the open road can dish out and yet they are more focused and determined than ever. "This was the last opportunity before the boys go to college," David said, who had always dreamed of riding across the country and simply wanted to spend more time with his sons.

Perhaps the most significant part of this journey is the continual outpouring of support from local towns that the Riding4Hope team has visited. Everyone is more than eager to hear their stories and numerous hotels and restaurants have compensated their rooms and meals in great appreciation of their efforts. It has and continues to be a trip of hard work and reward, David vigilantly keeps a daily journal updated on www.riding4hope.org with all of the hilarious details that the team encounters each day. Along with their sag support driver and family friend, Skip Junis, the team will climb one hill at a time, and finish the remaining 2,500 miles until they reach their ending destination in Virginia Beach, VA on August 9th. Visit their website and learn how you can become a proud supporter of the Riding4Hope team, and remember it just takes one to make a difference in the life of a child.
About the Boys & Girls Club ...
The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound benefits 13,150 children and teens at nine branches and 14 outreach sites in Pierce, Mason, and Kitsap Counties. The Clubs offer programs designed to enhance personal growth and education, tutoring, computer skills, delinquency prevention, the arts, sports training, league involvement, and much more. Through quality professional staff and a fun, positive environment, the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound assist thousands of kids in developing much needed life skills, self-esteem, and positive values.

For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, please call (253) 502-4600 or go online to www.bg-clubs.com.