Florida Man To Bike Across Country For Hospice Care
KEY WEST (CBS4) - A 27-year-old Floridian man has taken off on an eight thousand mile bicycle trek across the country to raise money and awareness for nonprofit hospice care.
Sarasota resident J.W. Frye conceived the journey he calls "One Bike, One Cause" after his mother received hospice care in Pennsylvania before losing her battle with brain cancer.
"About 18 months ago, I was wrestling with how can I possibly pay back the gifts that were so freely given to me and my family by hospice care, and what grew out of that was 'One Bike, One Cause'," said Frye.
Wednesday morning he started his solo mission from Key West's Southernmost Point. He hopes to end his ride in about six months at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. He chose the six-month timeframe because hospice care is available through Medicare to people with six months to live.
"I would love to show just how much life can be lived, how many people can be affected and how much change you can wrought in the world in six months' time," said Frye.
Frye plans to average 70 to 75 miles per day. His indirect route will take him up the eastern seaboard before he turns west and then north. The eclectic route will enable him to visit selected hospices, including the Key West Hospice, along the way.
As well as raising money for hospice care, he hopes to raise awareness about the benefits of hospice and a national bill being drafted to provide free grief counseling for bereaved children.
Although Frye is riding without a support crew, supporters can follow his journey across America on his website at www.onebikeonecause.org.
Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau contributed to this report
