Fund raising (click on image below)

Fund raising $4000 is no easy task. But it is certainly an incredible learning experience.

I have been carrying around a piece of paper, folded in my back pocket and a pen in my ear for the past two months now. And every time I think of another friend, I whip out my paper and scribble down his/her name. Then in the coming days, I send out an email or a letter, cautiously pressing "send" and hoping to hear a response. Often, I don't hear back from them so I just think of more friends and send out more letters. But sometimes, I do hear a response. And it’s an amazing feeling to get an email back from an acquaintance - my brother’s friend’s mother – who writes back all excited about my trip, how amazing of an experience it will be, and that she takes inspiration from my journey and dedication.

Such a response and accompanying generous donation is exactly what Bike & Build is about. It’s about raising funds – funds that will enable us to actually work building houses across the country. It’s about raising awareness to the folks I meet as I ride across America. And it’s about raising awareness right in my own town and circle of friends. Growing up, I never really heard much about “affordable housing”. A lot of people ask me, what does affordable housing even mean? And that’s a perfectly legitimate question because our communities are relatively homogenous and we do not have the chance to interact with people who cannot pay their rent. Oh yea, there’s Habitat for Humanity, I know that exists, but most of my hometown friends have never worked on a build site let alone know someone who lives in one of Habitat’s affordable houses.

It’s an amazing experience for me to talk about the issue, share my story and the stories I will hear from those I will meet, and it’s an amazing feeling know that my dedication will inspire others. This is exactly what my ride is about.

That’s why I am asking for your help. Through your donation, you will enable my hands to build, my legs to bike, and my heart to be changed by the people I will meet.