FORT SMITH, Ark. — A University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) student is traveling from coast to coast for a good cause.
Junior Braxten Martin is biking across the country and just recently made his way through Missouri. The trip will be taking soon-to-be senior Martin from Seattle to Washington, D.C.
He's joining his fraternity's Journey of Hope through The Ability Experience. It's a 4,315-mile journey from the Pacific Northwest to the U.S. Capitol Lawn.
"We normally do somewhere between 15-17 [miles], some days it's more, some days it's less, depends on the terrain," Martin said. "Snow, hail, sleet, all of it, plus dirt roads. Those are fun days."
While accomplishing such a feat can seem difficult, it's even more astonishing when you find out cycling wasn't Martin's hobby.
"No, this is really new," he said. "I biked a little bit like in middle school, but it was like down the block to a friend's house."
Martin said there were preparations from his fraternity before the long trip. He says he prepared to ride a bike cross country mostly with a stationary bike.
"They got a trainer to send like a schedule, what we need to do, how much we need to do, when rest days were, when you could substitute days," Martin said. "We have five crew vans that help and go every 10 miles. That way, we have plenty of water, Gatorade, and food if something happens mechanically."
The trip is all to raise $600,000 to help those with mental and physical disabilities. During the journey, they are also spreading friendship along the way.
"Having war balloon fights, dance parties. The other day, we did a shaving cream battle. It was really fun. Help people smile, laugh, be their friend, and also drop off grants and donations," Martin said.
If you'd like to keep up with Martin, you can follow his group's TransAmerica trip on The Ability Experience's website or on their social media. You can also support their cause with a donation at this link or scan the QR code below.
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