UPDATE - Local Cousins to Bike to Portland, Maine

UPDATE: Two days after her graduation on May 6, Britta embarked on the ambitious trip described in this article. Initially accompanied by a group of friends and family, her cousin Karina joined the effort along the way. Their route took them through seven states and one Canadian province, spanning almost 1,500 miles over 17 days of biking and three rest days. The journey, which concluded on May 25 in Maine, was supported by Britta's mother, who drove a support vehicle stocked with snacks, water and extra supplies. Averaging about 85 miles per day, Britta and Karina relied on the hospitality of campgrounds and friends' homes for their overnight stays. This endeavor was made possible through the support of family, friends and contributions from local bike shops such as Decorah Bicycles and Oneota River Cycles. Britta and Karina expressed deep gratitude for the donations to World Bicycle Relief, which will provide nearly 80 buffalo bikes to individuals in rural areas worldwide. These specially designed bikes are durable and easy to repair, making them ideal for rugged terrain. For more detailed updates and stories from their trip, visit their blog at powerofbicycles.org. DECORAH -- Beginning May 6, cousins Britta Swanson and Karina Schindler will bike 1600 miles from Duluth, Minnesota to Portland, Maine as a fundraiser for World Bicycle Relief, an organization which empowers individuals to access education, healthcare, and economic opportunities through life-changing bicycles. World Bicycle Relief (WBR) was founded in 2005 by F.K. Day and Leah Missbach Day in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In partnership with aid organizations in Sri Lanka, WBR distributed more than 24,000 specialized bicycles to displaced survivors, providing access to livelihoods and reconnecting entire communities. They have accelerated the journey out of poverty for more than 3.5 million people in 21 rural countries including Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Swanson, a graduating senior at University of Minnesota Duluth and a Decorah native, learned about the organization in 2023 and felt inspired to be involved. "I've always wanted to do a long cycling trip," she said. "I stumbled across the WBR website last year and reached out to their marketing team to see what fundraising would be like. We've set up a fundraising page through the website and have reached out to various contacts and bike shops to spread the word and to donate gear." A seasoned cross country runner, Swanson is no stranger to long distance athletics. "Endurance is my jam," she laughed. "The focus and repetitive movement is a sort of meditation. The bike ride will be challenging but knowing my purpose of helping others will give a lot of motivation." Schindler, a junior at University of Minnesota, has a history in biking and is also ready for the challenge. "I'm more of a mountain biker and had never really dabbled in road biking before this," she said. "I'm not used to slow and steady and long endurance. There will be a long time for reflection and thought-processing during the ride. It will be a huge challenge but Britta and I will keep each other company and know our purpose is to keep moving forward." Swanson and Schindler have been training for their estimated three-week bike ride in any way they can, while also balancing other responsibilities. "We can't do a lot during school and work, so we do what we can," says Schindler. "Along with biking, I cross-train with lifting weights and swimming." "I'm on my bike as many hours as I can be!" exclaimed Swanson. "We can always do more but our advice from others has been to do what you can. The first week of our trip will end up being what really trains us for how we ride the rest of it." The cousins share a familial motivation for this endeavor through their grandfather, Richard Schindler, who performed a similar excursion with a group of friends in 2011. "Grandpa rode with a team of five, all in their late sixties, from Portland, OR to Portland, ME as a fundraising trip for the Hormel Institute in Austin, Minnesota," Schindler explained. "One of their buddies passed away from cancer and they wanted to support the cause. The wife of one of the riders has given us a lot of tips and advice for planning our own journey." "Grandpa recently passed away," Swanson adds. "It's been nice to think about how he trained and to reflect on the parallels of our trips. Karina and I are so interested in empowering women and our ride focuses on supporting that cause." The cause centers around the specialized Buffalo Bike, which are furnished by WBR. The bikes are provided to those in rural communities as a dependent method of transportation. "The Buffalo Bike is a strong and sturdy bike made to carry a lot of weight," Schindler explains. "It is carefully curated who gets the bikes. WBR works with contacts in these areas to maximize positive effects. Providing jobs, training local mechanics... everything is directly or indirectly helping the economy." "It's a global affair," says Swanson. "It's not just WBR headquarters randomly choosing who receives the bikes. They pair with local advocates such as principals or parents to decide who will be helped the most, leading to less student and farmer absentees. Women, especially, in those areas have different barriers. If a bicycle can cut their travel time down, that is more time investing into family and growing into women who can support local community." The familial motivation for the bike ride also extends to family members directly joining in on the endeavor. "My dad, Kurt, is a big biker," says Swanson. "He'll join us on the trip for the final week. I grew up bonding with him and his passions. He taught me hard work and determination. Having someone to look up to like that is awesome. My mom, Erin, will be our support vehicle along the way and my aunt Liesl will join for a bit, as well. Both sets of our parents have been great supporters. We probably have one of the closest families on the planet." More family and excitement awaits Swanson and Schindler at the finish line. "My brother and sister live in Maine," Swanson said. "I am excited to celebrate the accomplished trip and its ups and downs with them and everyone else." "I'm excited for beer and lobster rolls!" Schindler laughs. Supporting the cousins on their endeavor can be done in a number of ways. "Fundraising support can go directly toward our page on the WBR website," says Swanson. "We're not avid bikers so we'd also appreciate any advice along the way, as well as spreading the word about the organization! WBR is not religiously affiliated, but we welcome any prayers sent along the way for us and for those receiving the bikes." Fundraising Website and Blog found here.Instagram: @kb.biketrip