Mark Castro and his roommate, Matt Mullins, were planing to take a long-distance bike ride through the United States this summer just for fun.
But after learning about Bike Aid, a cross country bike ride program that educates and raises money for environmental issues, they decided to pedal for a cause.
"Matt found out about Bike Aid through a table they had at school," Castro said. "He brought the information home and we talked about it for a while and thought it would be a great idea."
The two SF State students will be leaving San Francisco June 17 for the 3,600 mile trip to Washington D.C.
Last year Bike Aid raised money for AIDS research and the participants focused on AIDS education.
According to Jessica Berman, educational coordinator for Bike Aid, approximately 50 people will be participating in this ride. There will be five different starting points around the country. On the west coast riders will be leaving from San Francisco and Seattle.
"There will be 15 people riding in our group," Castro said. "Our route will take us pretty much down I-80. Some of the towns we will be stopping at will be Salt Lake City, Denver, Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri," he said.
Each rider will be stopping at towns along the way, participating in educational programs dealing with environmental issues.
"The riders will meet with community representatives and local people at the different cities they stop at to share ideas and talk about the environment," Berman said.
"Some of the things we will be talking about are agriculture issues such as organic farming and rotating crops, and recycling alternatives," Castro said.
The ride will culminate in Washington D.C. on August 20, where the riders will participate in a rally and attend meetings with non-profit organizations and possibly members of The House of Representatives and the Senate.
Riders will have to find their own way back home.
"It is a big sacrifice doing this. I'm going to fly back home. This is a month out of my life," Castro said. "At first, the reason we wanted to do this was the chance to pedal across the country. But as I have been reading up on the environment I really have gotten involved in the subject."
Each participant will be given a four-day orientation workshop on environmental issues before the ride.
One of the most difficult parts of the Bike Aid program, according to Castro, is finding sponsors. Each rider is encouraged to get a dollar a mile. The cross-country trip is estimated at 3,600 miles.
"I've done more fund raising than actual training for the ride, but I feel I'm ready for it," Castro said.
"We have bicyclists from all ages and abilities joining us on the ride," Berman said. "Anyone can participate in this."
If you would like to help sponsor Matt and Mark you can call Bike Aid at 431-4480.