February 25, 2010
Brittany App to cycle from California to Florida for WaterAid

Brittany App plans to cycle 3,159 miles across the country, from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL to benefit WaterAid.

Brittany App, fresh off her completion of the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon in San Francisco, has decided to embark on yet another adventure.

She is planning to cycle 3,159 miles across the country, from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL, along the Southern Tier route established by the Adventure Cycling Association, in order to bring attention to the water crisis and raise some funds for WaterAid.

“I thought about volunteering abroad for three months, but I thought raising awareness might be more effective,” Brittany said. “I want to light a fire like it has been lit in me. I have been incredibly fortunate to be given this opportunity and I have a duty to do what I can to inspire others.”

Raising over $2,500 for WaterAid during the 13 mile half marathon made her wonder how much she could raise for an endeavor like this. She said she’s not a “super athlete or world class cyclist” and doesn’t even own a bike yet, but this is “something that came from my heart and I had to go with it.”

I'm an everyday woman, riding across the country to raise money for something I care about... and I hope it inspires people to think, 'I could do something crazy like that.’

She will bike from September to November, traveling an average of 37 miles per day. Along the way, she will stay with friends, colleagues, and “any kind souls” that take her in. Mostly, she’ll be camping and documenting her work through photos and blog entries.

She chose WaterAid because water is an issue she cares deeply about. “The work that WaterAid is doing is incredible. I have this book called What Matters , and in it is a picture of a woman in a remote village in Ghana smiling brightly over a well WaterAid put in. Now she doesn’t have to send her daughter out to walk four miles everyday to get dirty water.”

She is currently working on getting sponsors for her equipment, planning a training routine, and using social networking sites to find people to host her along the way.

She is extremely grateful to her friends and family, who supported her through her half marathon, and continue to support her with encouraging words and donations.

“I’m fully aware this won’t be easy. But it’s all part of it,” she said. “I'm an everyday woman, riding across the country to raise money for something I care about... and I hope it inspires people to think, 'I could do something crazy like that'”

To learn more about her ride and to donate, visit Brittany’s Firstgiving page . (link opens in new window.)