Dateline: April 8, 2016 Big Brothers Big Sisters supporter bikes his way from Florida to Alaska By Jaycie Cheatham-Cundall [email protected] PINEDALE- A man on a personal mission to raise funds for the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization is biking between two oceans, across 11 states, two countries and five time zones, but does not consider himself a �cyclist.� �I don�t know brands, or what the latest gear is, or how to work on the bikes much. I just ride for recreation,� said Bill Marcell of Excelsior Springs, MO. In April, Marcell decided to embark on a 6,200-mile bike ride from the Atlantic Ocean at Key West, FL, to the Arctic Ocean at Prudhoe Bay, AK, just 250 miles from the Arctic Circle. Marcell is a 62-year-old, retired IT man who is simply following a dream after 10 years of contemplation. �I wasn't sure when I would do it, and every year I kept thinking that perhaps next year would be the year. And another year would come. And another year would go� This is the year.� To document his adventure Marcell hired a web designer to trace his route and add his journal entries and photos to his website � keys2alaska.com � where donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters can be made. So far Marcell�s cause has raised $350 for the organization. �I chose Big Brothers Big Sisters because I used to work for Nerium International, the largest corporate donor to the organization.� Nerium International is a relationship marketing company that houses the scientific research and development of age-defying products. Marcell retired from the company a week before he began this journey. Though Marcell is not advocating any monetary assistance for himself, there is also a tab on his site where contributions to his ride can be made. Throughout the trip Marcell has received help from family, friends, and strangers alike. He has been provided with places to stay, meals, cash, and even prayers for his safe travels. Despite the cyclist suffering a flat tire on day one of his journey, he did not get discouraged. Now, 54 days into his journey and Marcell is still pedaling. Besides missing his loved ones back home, his biggest challenge so far has been equipment failure here and there with a total of six flats, two broken spokes, one wheel change, and an installment of a completely different gear cassette purposed for the more mountainous terrain of Wyoming. Although it is advised for cyclists to have one day off for every seven riding days, Marcell hasn�t taken many rest days, until he hit the weather in Sublette County. He left Rock Springs on Sunday, but has since been rained in at the Sanddraw Station south of Boulder. Marcell�s longest ride prior to this expedition was a mere 730 miles that he made back in 1985 from his home in Excelsior Springs to Northern Michigan. Like that trip, once Marcell arrives in Alaska he will pack up his bike and fly back home. Marcell is equipped with survival gear including iodine tablets and a filtration device in case he needs to obtain drinking water from streams or other bodies of water. He also bought a brand new phone with the ability to take higher-resolution photos and downloaded an app that will serve as a GPS. Marcell also made sure to pack a whistle and a special bear repellant. �If you have a fear of bears, do not watch �The Revenant� before you decide to ride through the wilderness,� advised Marcell. The cyclist made sure that his route took him through Jackson Hole and Baniff, Canada in Alberta Province, two areas where he is most excited to witness the scenery. Once Marcell reaches the icy waters of the Alaskan bay, he doesn�t intend to only dip in his tire, but his entire body, by participating in a polar plunge. |