In a continuing campaign to raise awareness of disaster relief efforts throughout the nation, Neal Friesen has embarked upon Cycle MDS, a 10,000-mile solo bicycle tour of the continental United States — including a brief jaunt into Canada.
Cycle MDS aims to promote efforts undertaken by Mennonite Disaster Service and the disaster management program at Hesston College in Hesston, Kan., and stopped in Little Falls Monday.
Friesen, 26, said he decided on May 21 that he would leave his resident director position at Hesston College to begin a new chapter in his life. “I decided that since I would essentially be unemployed and homeless, there was no better time than now to venture out on the vacation of a lifetime,” he said.
The 10,000-mile trip began in New Iberia, La., on June 1 and is scheduled to take approximately six months, with Friesen returning to Louisiana on Nov. 30. The Henderson, Neb., native said he chose New Iberia as his departure point because students from Hesston College were working at the site.
“When I tell people about the trip, I get varied responses, but two general themes emerge — ‘You’re going to have some stories to tell’ and ‘You’re out of your mind,’ said Friesen, who spent three years at Kansas State University before transferring to Goshen College in Goshen, Ind., to complete his degree in Bible, religion and philosophy. “I want to see this country in a unique way and by doing it this way, I will have some time to reflect on where my life is going and what I should do next.”
Friesen is cycling without the aid of a support vehicle and is carrying all 80 pounds of his equipment — including a portable camp stove and a one-man tent — in a pack strapped to his bike. He covers about 400 miles per week, entering each of the contiguous 48 states at least once on his journey.
He may be all on his own, but Friesen does have support and encouragement from family, friends and those interested in his journey. He said that many people are following him as he documents his experiences on his blog at cyclemds.blogspot.com and through his website at www.cyclemds.org.
“Rather than disappear on my bike for six months, I want to take this opportunity to make a positive impact on the world while I am doing something I love,” said Friesen of the causes he is riding for.
Mennonite Disaster Service, a disaster-relief agency comprised of Anabaptist churches in the U.S. and Canada, organizes volunteers to assist in disaster-stricken areas in both countries — including areas now being contaminated by the Gulf oil spill. The agency’s main focus is on helping the most vulnerable in a community, including the elderly, the handicapped, single parents, the unemployed, the uninsured and the underinsured — those who are not covered by traditional means of recovery.
The disaster management program began at Hesston College in the fall of 2005 as a cooperative venture between the college and Mennonite Disaster Service. With an increased number of disasters and greater economic losses on record, Hesston administrators and faculty members recognized the need for trained leadership in managing disaster response and recovery.
To learn more about the organizations, and to make a donation to support the MDS program, go to www.cyclemds.org. “Your sponsorship can make a difference in the lives of those who have suffered from disaster and the lives of students wishing to do that same,” said Friesen.
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In a continuing campaign to raise awareness of disaster relief efforts throughout the nation, Neal Friesen has embarked upon Cycle MDS, a 10,000-mile solo bicycle tour of the continental United States — including a brief jaunt into Canada.
Cycle MDS aims to promote efforts undertaken by Mennonite Disaster Service and the disaster management program at Hesston College in Hesston, Kan., and stopped in Little Falls Monday.
Friesen, 26, said he decided on May 21 that he would leave his resident director position at Hesston College to begin a new chapter in his life. “I decided that since I would essentially be unemployed and homeless, there was no better time than now to venture out on the vacation of a lifetime,” he said.
The 10,000-mile trip began in New Iberia, La., on June 1 and is scheduled to take approximately six months, with Friesen returning to Louisiana on Nov. 30. The Henderson, Neb., native said he chose New Iberia as his departure point because students from Hesston College were working at the site.
“When I tell people about the trip, I get varied responses, but two general themes emerge — ‘You’re going to have some stories to tell’ and ‘You’re out of your mind,’ said Friesen, who spent three years at Kansas State University before transferring to Goshen College in Goshen, Ind., to complete his degree in Bible, religion and philosophy. “I want to see this country in a unique way and by doing it this way, I will have some time to reflect on where my life is going and what I should do next.”
Friesen is cycling without the aid of a support vehicle and is carrying all 80 pounds of his equipment — including a portable camp stove and a one-man tent — in a pack strapped to his bike. He covers about 400 miles per week, entering each of the contiguous 48 states at least once on his journey.
He may be all on his own, but Friesen does have support and encouragement from family, friends and those interested in his journey. He said that many people are following him as he documents his experiences on his blog at cyclemds.blogspot.com and through his website at www.cyclemds.org.
“Rather than disappear on my bike for six months, I want to take this opportunity to make a positive impact on the world while I am doing something I love,” said Friesen of the causes he is riding for.
Mennonite Disaster Service, a disaster-relief agency comprised of Anabaptist churches in the U.S. and Canada, organizes volunteers to assist in disaster-stricken areas in both countries — including areas now being contaminated by the Gulf oil spill. The agency’s main focus is on helping the most vulnerable in a community, including the elderly, the handicapped, single parents, the unemployed, the uninsured and the underinsured — those who are not covered by traditional means of recovery.
The disaster management program began at Hesston College in the fall of 2005 as a cooperative venture between the college and Mennonite Disaster Service. With an increased number of disasters and greater economic losses on record, Hesston administrators and faculty members recognized the need for trained leadership in managing disaster response and recovery.
To learn more about the organizations, and to make a donation to support the MDS program, go to www.cyclemds.org. “Your sponsorship can make a difference in the lives of those who have suffered from disaster and the lives of students wishing to do that same,” said Friesen.
