Katrina Miller finally is able to cross a few things off her "to do" list. The Gaylord resident always wanted to bicycle across America, and she always had a desire to help people. She'll do both this summer when she joins about 217 other bicyclists participating in the Sea to Sea Bike Tour.
The two-month trek from June 30 to Aug. 30 is sponsored by the Christian Reformed Church in partnership with the Reformed Church in America and will cover 3,881 miles between Seattle and Jersey City, N.J. It's a way to draw attention to the "cycle" of poverty while attempting to raise $1.5 million to fund church-sponsored poverty reduction initiatives.
Miller, 20, learned of the tour through her church, The Friendship Church in Gaylord, where the congregation is helping Miller reach her goal of $10,000.
Letters along with garage and bake sales in Gaylord this month brought her total to $4,000, but Miller still is selling reusable grocery bags embellished with the Sea to Sea tour emblem as well as wristbands. She also is welcoming sponsorship donations through the church and the tour's Web site.
The opportunity to participate is a dream come true for Miller.
"For the last few years I've wanted to ride a bike cross-country," she said.
The Grand Valley State University junior suffered a setback in April 2007 when a car accident left her with broken bones and internal injuries that confined her to a wheelchair for six weeks.
As soon as she was back on her feet, Miller, who is majoring in athletic training, made bicycling a part of her own rehabilitation workout. Now she's ready to put her training to work helping others.
Miller has been riding 30 miles a day but knows she'll have to step up her training if she's going to keep pace with the tour. The scheduled plan is to complete the ride in 62 days averaging 72 miles each 10-hour day on the road.
Miller said she'll be ready by June 28 when she'll fly to Seattle after storing her bike on a gear truck that will leave from Grand Rapids.
"I had to train on my own, but I'm an athlete, and I always loved riding my bike on my own," said Miller, who credits her family of bicycling enthusiasts for the good physical conditioning before her accident that helped her overcome serious injuries.
Miller said her desire to ride cross-country was always there, but she chose this particular tour because it's with a Christian group on a mission for the church.
"I often don't consciously think about choosing to do something based on my faith. I just naturally do it," said Miller, who believes living a Christian lifestyle and leading by example are ingrained parts of her character. "I do struggle or fail sometimes, but for me, living like a Christian is like breathing, you usually don't have to think about it," she said.
While she's on the road, Miller's friends and family will check in with her during one of 12 celebration rallies planned across the country. One of the largest rallies intended to encourage the riders and raise funds along the way will take place Aug. 17 at Fifth Third Ballpark in Grand Rapids.
Miller also will be one of several cyclists who will post a blog on the Sea to Sea Web site for those who want to follow her ride. Others who would like to monitor the tour and offer prayers for riders can do so. Copies of "Shifting Gears: Maps and Meditations for the Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour" are available. The 160-page devotional with a route map of the 54-day trip, along with short meditations that the cyclists and support crew will use each day of their journey are available for purchase on the Web.
"My parents and I are covering my travel expenses. All the money I raise will go to missions and poverty reduction," Miller said. "I've always loved helping people and I sometimes feel guilty about how much we have in America," she said. "I am excited that I can meet the goal I have about riding across the country and help a lot of people at the same time."
Follow Katrina Miller's journey at www.SeatoSea.org. To make a donation in her name, visit the site or call (888) 272-BIKE.
Gretchen Murray can be reached at gmurray@record-eagle.com.
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