Milan News article

Biking for a cause


Silent auctions and raffle fundraising appear to be a thing of the past this month, with the most common form of fundraising coming instead from physical activity sponsorship.

Bikers from Milan and Saline will be putting their skills and athleticism to good use in July, raising money for charities. Various cyclists across the state are choosing a foundation, collecting donations and sponsors, and making treks anywhere from across the state to across the country.

Megan East and Theresa Brosius are two of those participants, raising money for their respective charities. East will be making a cross-country trip for the Fuller Center for Housing. Brosius will bike across the state of Michigan for the Make A Wish Foundation.

East, a 23-year-old college graduate who lives in Milan and works at the Saline Recreation Center, joined the Christian faith-based nonprofit bicycling event to help others find affordable housing. She and 11 others will travel 1,300 miles from Michigan to Florida, stopping along the way to help build houses.

East's trip begins July 10 in Benton Harbor and finishes Aug. 16 at Panacea Park in Florida. East and her teammates estimate doing 50 to 55 miles each day that they bike.

East's event also encourages participants to join on for part-time biking distances. Others interested in helping the cause can bike for shorter legs of the trip and raise money that way, such as the opening 35-mile stretch from Benton Harbor to South Bend, Ind.

"I just decided I wanted to volunteer this summer doing something special, and decided since these are such tough economic times for everyone, that raising money for people's housing is great," East said.

This is the second inaugural year of the trip for the Fuller Center. The trip snakes through seven different states.

East found herself in a position to donate her time after being laid off recently from a police department in Maryland. She returned home to Southeastern Michigan shortly after and returned to her Saline Recreation Center job, which she held for years prior to her time in Maryland.

East lives in Milan, as does her father, and has also coached volleyball in the Milan area. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University.

The Fuller Center is hoping to raise $200,000 for the whole trip, which will be used to improve and build houses for those in need of affordable housing. So far, the group has raised $29,142. East hopes to raise at least $4,500 on her own.

Those interested in helping and donating to the fundraising effort can visit www.fullercenterbiketrip.com.

While Brosius and her biking excursion may be shorter in distance than East's, it's no less important in its goals. The Make A Wish bike tour will be held July 23 through 26. It's a three-day event aiming to raise money to complete special wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.

The bike tour covers 300 miles from Traverse City to Chelsea. The money raised goes directly to purchase wishes, which, on average, cost $8,000 per wish. Often times those wishes include trips and airfare, such as trips for the family to see Disneyland.

Brosius hopes to raise $750 on her own, and recently hit the $300 mark. For her, participating was the easiest choice in the world. She has been a pediatric nurse at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital for the past 19 years.

But she's also in great shape now that her three daughters -- Laura, Michelle and Emily -- are out of the nest and graduated. She has spent much of her time improving her level of physical fitness at the local gym.

"I have a real interest in doing things that are good for sick children, and I really decided to do it because I'm in the best I've ever been in," Brosius said. "I just ran the Dexter-Ann Arbor marathon and ran the best race of my life. So why don't I try to do something to benefit others? What's the point of being in shape if you can't do something good with it?"

Ever since the end of October, Brosius has been doing strength training three times a week and cardiovascular exercise every day. She also bikes to and from work every day, a roundtrip that adds up to 24 miles long.

"I really love to ride, and I've always wanted to bike ride across the country. I think this is a good chance to see what it's like," she said.

Leaving from Traverse City July 23, Brosius and 900 other participants will bike 100 miles for three days until they reach Chelsea. The 900 participants have already raised a cumulative sum of $680,000 to spend on wishes.

To further her own fundraising efforts, Brosius plans to hold a bake sale at her work, and will be holding a raffle at the Snap fitness center where she trains. She will be offering up a free massage from In Touch Therapeutic Massage, as well as other items. The raffle is July 15.