Jamey Mixson of South Euclid, Ohio, soon will start a bicycle ride across the country to raise awareness about illiteracy and childhood obesity, reported the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
Mixson will start Saturday from Cleveland and will end his journey in Los Angeles suburb of Manhattan Beach, Calif. He’s planning on picking up Route 66 in St. Louis.
He’s got an ambitious schedule — he’s wanting to complete the trip in 35 days. That means he’ll have to average 75 miles a day. At least he’s not a rank amateur on the bicycle — he’s been pedaling for 25 years and has even won a few races. He cycles 500 miles a week.
Mixson also has another reason at attempt the feat:
And, according to Mixson, there’s no documentation of anyone of African-American decent taking on this feat. “It’s hard. I don’t want to play a racial card, but White people or Europeans tend to be a little more adventurous than us.”
For him, he considers it to be another celebration of “we as people.” […]
“I really want people of color to be more expansion, panoramic, to just try to live their dreams,” Mixson said.
If you want to make a donation for his ride, Mixson’s website is here.