Student Cycles for Cause

Nonprofit sponsors campaign for low-cost livingSophie MattsonTHE SANTA CLARAApril 10, 2014 [dropcap]S[/dropcap]ophomore Jessica May will be spending her summer biking across the country to raise awareness about accessible affordable housing in America.May and 30 other young adults will begin their journey on June 17 in Portland, Maine.The ride is sponsored by Bike and Build, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the affordable housing crisis in the United States. After traversing through 13 states, the team will finish in Santa Barbara, Calif. on Aug. 30.According to a press release from Bike and Build, the team will bike for an average of 71 miles per day and will raise funds for affordable housing organizations and build homes across the country with 12 different programs, such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together.May is currently in the process of funding a goal amount of $4,500 for low-cost living.“The large majority of (the funding) goes towards affordable housing organizations across the United States, and mostly for Habitat for Humanity,” May said. “We get to impact not only communities that we are close to, but also immerse (ourselves) in other communities.”According to May, each rider is to raise between $500 and $1,000 and will pick one organization to receive the donation money.The communities that Bike and Build will assist are to provide the bikers with places to sleep.In addition to building homes, the team will be giving presentations about affordable housing in America from the locations at which they will be staying, such as churches or schools.May, who rarely drives and instead uses road cycling as her primary means of commuting, was inspired to participate in Bike and Build by both her previous volunteer experience with Habitat for Humanity and her friend’s glowing recommendation of the program.While on the cross-country trip, May hopes to inspire others.Contact Sophie Mattson at smattson@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.