Arizona Lion Aims to Save Sight of 2500
Imagine pedaling a mountain bike 2668 miles from Mexico to Canada through the Rocky Mountains along the Continental Divide - the ridge dividing the eastern part of the U.S. from the West. Imagine spending 68 days straight on that bike, travelling around 40 miles per day - at elevations up to 12,000 feet. And imagine that you will be pulling a trailer carrying your tent and food and water weighing 70 pounds with you - no supply caravan on this trip.
Most of us get tired just thinking about it - but Tucson Rincon Lions Club president Naran Patel is game to go - to raise funds for Campaign Sight First II. Patel aims to raise $15,000 - enough to save the sight of 2500 people or one person for each mile he rides.
A 67 year old retired international banker from Chicago, Patel has run marathons and biked cross country but never tried mountain biking before. He will leave Antelope Wells, New Mexico on the Mexican border May 23 - and plans to arrive in Banff, Canada on July 30, 2008.
He will be riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR) through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and another 215 miles into Canada. The GDMBR is the longest mountain bike dirt route in the world and crosses the Continental Divide 29 times. About 80% of the ride is on dirt roads through the Rocky Mountains.
Elevations for the ride range from 2500 feet in Montana to 11,910 feet in Colorado. Temperatures will range from 100 degrees at the start of the ride in the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico to 30 degrees at night in the Rockies of Colorado.
Patel will make the trip with three other men ranging in age from 55 to 65. The group includes a teacher from New Mexico and two riders from Phoenix and Philadelphia. Patel is the only Lion in the group and has dedicated his ride to raise money for Campaign Sight First II.
Clubs or individuals interested in helping to save the sight of one person for each mile of the ride may send checks to (payable to LCIF)
Tucson Rincon Lion Sally Moffett at 8987 Tanqe Verde #309-310, Tucson, Arizona 85749.
Additional information is available from Sally at 520 760-0152 or scmoffett@Yahoo.com
Photographs / Trip Progress
If you are interested in viewing the progress or recent photographs, please click here.
Unfortunately, the trip was canceled due to injury. I had tried hard, very hard. It was a wonderful and rewarding experience.
Thanks to all my friends, donors, Pie Town residents, my ride companions and Lion members who supported me on this great adventure. In a few months we expect to have raised almost $13,000.00 to save the sight of over 2,100 deserving people. This was a ride for a worthy cause and fun.
References
- Campaign Sight First II
- Lion's Club Organization
- Great Divide Mountain Bike Route
- Great Continental Divide
Pledge
"$6 can save the sight of one person. Help me raise $15,000, enough to save one person’s sight for every mile I ride."
- Naran Patel