N. Mich. man prepares for 3,000 mile bicycle trip for breast cancer
Read more: Local
PETOSKEY -- Forty-six million women around the world die each year from breast cancer. Now, a northern Michigan man is helping to lead the fight one pedal at a time.
"I thought to share this dream instead of doing it alone I would bring people along with me so what I'm doing is i've asked for help in raising money for breast cancer awareness," said Tim Leeper, a Mackinac Island resident who is preparing to embark on a cross-country bicycle trip raising money for breast cancer awareness.
Leeper will pedal his way on his bike nearly 3,400 miles from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida. It's a month and a half long journey Leeper will embark on beginning at the start of the year for a cause that is close to his heart.
"I've been widowed for 8 years, I lost my wife and my sister in law to breast cancer eight years ago they were born february fourth and both died five months apart," Leeper said.
He says he's asking for pennies for every mile he pedals.
"One cent, five cents, ten cents, whatever is a dollar a mile if you're feeing good about it," Leeper said.
All of the money raised is going back toward breast cancer awareness programs in Charlevoix and Emmet counties. So far by selling a bit of his artwork, Leeper says he's already surpassed his goal before even getting started, raising more than $5,000. But, it's a journey he intends to complete and bringing you along for the ride.
"Anybody who donates money at any of these fundraisers," Leeper said. "I'll be filling out postcards and sending them to you randomly with little stories from across the stories (of the tour)."
Little stories he says he hopes will help make a big impact in the fight against breast cancer.
Click HERE to learn more about Tim Leeper's trip across the country.
