By Jill Bongiorni, News Correspondent
Northeastern junior Brian Franklin is less than a month away from the ride of his life. On May 14, he will embark on a 3,542-mile journey across the country to raise awareness and support for affordable housing.
Franklin will cycle from Nags Head, N.C. to San Diego, Calif. with an organization called Bike and Build. It is a nonprofit organization that raises money for and awareness of affordable housing issues in the United States through cross country cycling trips.
So far, Franklin has raised $2,400 of the $4,000 needed, while balancing a full schedule of classes. He is a civil engineering major and a part-time graduate student, earning a Master’s Degree in construction management. As of now, Franklin said he is still thinking of new ways to raise money, and is piecing all of those elements together.
He is also preparing for the physical aspect of the trip: cross country cycling. He has fixed up his bike and rides at least once or twice a week. He also plans on training with the group traveling from Boston to Santa Barbara from June 18 until Aug. 24.
Because he was never much of a cyclist, the affordable housing aspect is what initially caught his interest, Franklin said. He first got involved with charity work through his community church’s youth group his freshman year of high school, and has stuck with nonprofit work ever since.
Through various Habitat for Humanities and their affiliates, Franklin has been on three trips similar to those of Bike and Build. Although each trip was only a week long, he said the experiences made a big impression on him.
“The most memorable moment I’ve had while working on a Habitat home was when a teenage girl whose family was working on and receiving the home, came up to me at the end of the day and hugged me and said ‘Thank you,’” Franklin said.
Franklin searched through Habitat for Humanity for similar building opportunities, but “saw this one, and knew right away” that he wanted to pursue it.
When they are not biking along their cross-country route, the cyclists help with the labor of building the affordable homes. Ending July 2, Franklin’s trip will have a total of 12 building days split up between eight construction sites, one of which will be in Colorado Springs, Colo. The house will be built entirely by Bike and Build and Pike’s Peak Habitat volunteers. Franklin’s route will lay the foundation, and will be followed by the South Carolina to Santa Cruz, Calif., route, who will finish the framing, roofing and interior.
While on the road, the bikers sleep at pre-arranged schools, churches, or anywhere with enough space and willing owners.
“Everything is donated to us: food, places to stay,” said Boston University senior Christina Genco, who has previously been on two Bike and Build trips. “It’s great to see that people who have so little are willing to give so much.”
At each stop the group gives a presentation in which each of the cyclists introduces themselves and the group gives a speech about the history of Bike and Build, including what they do and what life is like on the road.
“These presentations are done to engage community members in the work our organization does,” said Rebecca Stievater, a route leader for Bike and Build and a current employee at the Bicycle-Friendly Berkeley Coalition, another cycling nonprofit. “We teach them about the cause they’re supporting and thank them for hosting us.”
Although Franklin will spend seven full weeks sleeping, eating, and working with the other 32 cyclists on his route, he will not meet any of them until they begin their trip May 14. However, he said he is confident everyone will get along.
“I knew going into it that my trip-mates would become some of my closest friends,” said Stievater, who has previously been on two Bike and Build trips. “It’s not often you undertake something so incredible with a group of people. It definitely ties you together in a way that you don’t get to experience very often in your life.”
Another common bond the group shares is their age. All cyclists must be between the ages of 19 and 24. Because of this, Bike and Build purposefully arranges trips around college schedules, with most trips during the summer months. Anyone who passes the age requirement and a basic physical test is welcome. However, there is a very long waiting list and positions are filled on a first come first serve basis.
Additional information on Bike and Build can be found at their website Bikeandbuild.org and donations can be made to Franklin’s rider profile at Bikeandbuild.org/rider/3708.
“I would recommend this trip to anyone. It was literally the best experience of my life,” said Genco, a graphic design and hospitality major. “All you do all day is you wake up and ride your bike. You don’t have to worry about your car or your apartment or going to work or class. You can accomplish anything.”
