Bicyclists to Embark on Epic Journey Around the United States to Raise Awareness and Funds for CPT
David Jones of Wickenburg, Arizona and Michael
Himlie of Harmony, Minnesota are planning a bicycle expedition in 2016 to raise money for peace organizations. They hope to raise $100,000 for Christian Peacemaker Teams and other organizations devoted to non-violence.
Jones, 60 and Himlie, 22 met last year in Israel / Palestine while participating in a delegation
with Christian Peacemaker Teams.
Says Jones, “Michael and I spent a lot of time together and
got to know each other. We’re both bicyclists and have done some long distance riding.”
Jones
is retired from the healthcare software industry and Himlie is a student at Manchester University
in Indiana. After returning home Jones and Himlie stayed in touch and a few months ago came
up with the idea of riding one hundred miles in each state over fifty consecutive days. “We are
calling it – Fifty Centuries in Fifty States in Fifty Consecutive Days” says Jones.
Introduction to BikingForPeace from David Jones on Vimeo.
Their plan calls for them to fly to Hawaii for the first leg of their journey which starts at midnight
on Saturday, May 14, 2016. They will ride the same route as those competing in the Ironman
Triathlon on the big island of Hawaii. Immediately after completing this initial leg they will fly to
Los Angeles where they will begin the process of riding in the lower 48 states. They will use a
support vehicle and drivers to drive them from state to state following each days ride. “Obviously this is a huge undertaking from a logistics standpoint”, says Himlie. “We have to not
only ride a hundred miles each day but plan the most efficient driving route around the country,
find time to eat and sleep.”
The pair will stay in churches and community centers in each state.
Their route around the U.S. will eventually lead them to Portland, Oregon. There they will fly to
Anchorage, Alaska for the final day of their expedition on Saturday, July 2, 2016.
Both men are committed to active non-violent resistance. “Michael and I saw some atrocities in
Palestine which stunned us. Although we are separated by a few years in age we share a
common belief that violence does not resolve conflict” says Jones.
Eventually both men hope to
serve with Christian Peacemaker Teams on one of its teams in Palestine, Iraq or Columbia. They
hope to raise $100,000 for Christian Peacemaker Teams and other organizations devoted to
non-violence.
If you would like more information or would like to interview David Jones or Michael Himlie
please call David Jones at (928)415-1037 or email him at david@bikingforpeace.org
