Biking for Kids in India Save

Raising Scholarship Funds for Kids in India

via Bicycle Rides and Speaking Engagements

Updated - December 20, 2010
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On April 26, 2010 Lauren Brown departed from San Luis Obispo CA on his bicycle, towing a small trailer loaded with camping gear, communication equipment and supplies – 320 lbs in total weight. He was launching a solo cross-country bicycle trip, intending to raise scholarship funds for village children in India as he traveled across the country. His route took him across the Mojave Desert, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, across Lake Michigan on a ferry and finally further east across the Appalachian Mountains to Washington D.C. The journey took Lauren through 15 states plus the District of Columbia, lasted 105 days and covered 3831 miles. Camping part of the time, he also stayed at motels and, best of all, sometimes with various old and new friends as well as relatives living along the route. Lauren was joined on the last 300 miles (from Pittsburgh to D.C.) by his wife, Susan, and younger sister and brother-in-law, Jeannie and Brian Weber. The welcoming party at the Jefferson Memorial on Aug. 8 included granddaughters Chloe and Julia Goforth. What a happy day!

Lauren saw this bicycle trip as a humanitarian effort to help disadvantaged children in remote Indian villages to have the opportunity for a quality education in a nurturing environment. The intent is to continue this fund-raising activity into 2011 and beyond with periodic bicycle trips and outreach to supporters. Although the schools involved are Methodist-related, Lauren hopes that support will come from a broad spectrum of people, not just Methodists, not just Christians, not just Americans but people of any background who wish to make a difference in the lives of children in great need.

If your organization or church would be interested in having Lauren make a presentation about this project, please contact him at SLOBiker1@bfki.us . See the map and general itinerary below. Keep in touch with Lauren's progress by checking in on his Blog, which he plans to update periodically.

Lauren at La Manga Pass in Colorado, May 2010

This is the route followed in the summer of 2010. Future rides will be shorter but may cover various parts of the country.