Melvin, of Glen Cove, N.Y., flew to San Francisco, Calif., to join the America by Bicycle Cross Country Challenge
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For those of us in our forties and fifties who can barely bike across town, Melvin Siedman’s decision to bike across the entire country at 70-years-old sounds a little insane. Melvin, who stopped at Dungy’s in Gallatin Tuesday for lunch, would be the first to agree. He says he is “certifiably crazy!”
Melvin, of Glen Cove, N.Y., flew to San Francisco, Calif., to join the America by Bicycle Cross Country Challenge. He and 16 other people will travel an average of 85 miles a day for 3,796 miles.
Some of the bikers are taking the trip for the challenge, but Melvin keeps pumping along in support of his grandson, Ben. Ben, 9, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome at the age of 15 months.
Melvin says his grandson dreams of being a farmer with a barn full of mooing Holsteins. His favorite toys are tractors, books about the pastoral life and his constant stuffed companion, Milkshake. However, because Ben is missing an enzyme that breaks down a complex sugar called heparan sulfate, he may never have the chance to farm his land. For more about Ben, see his website, bensdream.org.
Melvin’s bike trip is one of many efforts the family is taking as it seeks to be proactive in finding a cure. Ben’s brother, Noah, sold 500 wrist bands in support of his brother.
Melvin is retired and has been biking for the past five years. He will be 70 on Aug. 11 and describes himself as the biking group’s elder statesman. Their cross-country tour, which started in San Francisco and ends in Portsmouth, N.H., is scheduled to take 52 days. Yesterday, July 5, the bikers were on their 31st day. They travel with a support van and sign-in at SAG (support and gear) stops.
The group left from St. Joseph and their next stop is in Chillicothe, a total of about 91 miles.