Pedaling With Purpose: Minnesota Cousins’ Epic Journey Together

THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED

We take bikes for granted here in the United States. I've got two sitting in my shed, and every time I see them I think; I need to ride a bike! I love riding a bike, but it's been so long since I've done it so I just don't do it. WHY?! This might be a challenge for you to get your bike out of your garage and back on the trail to do good for others who don't take bikes for granted; as a matter of fact, they can give these individuals a sense of freedom.

World Bicycle Relief's 'Pedal To Empower' challenge is a global campaign to help empower women and girls around the world with life-changing bicycles.

Two young adventurers from Minnesota decided to take on the challenge. Karina Schindler and Britta Swanson hit the trail recently on a three-week adventure, traveling 1500 miles from Minnesota to Maine, averaging about 85 miles a day.

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WHAT IS WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF?

They say that it wasn't an easy task by any means, but it was their reason for doing it that kept them motivated to push forward. In doing so, the girls raised almost $14,000 for World Bicycle Relief, the nonprofit that empowers and mobilizes low-income regions of the world with access to bikes.

Because of their efforts, 80 life-changing bicycles were released to these regions of the world.

NEXT ADVENTURE?

The cousins say they may do another ride, maybe through the Rockies but right now, their next adventure will be trying to find a place to live together sometime in the fall.  You can watch the interview of their exciting trip below.  How about you? Are you ready to meet the challenge?

WCCO/CBS Minnesota/YouTube