Sphens Bike Trek for NF1 awareness
Donation protected
Hi Everyone!
This has been a year of changes and challenges for me . As I’ve pondered upon the moves, relationships and disappointments of the last year I came to realize that I am spending way too much time dwelling on what could be rather than what can be and who I want to be.
Already a free spirit by nature (as many of my close friends and family know) it’s just not in my genetics to stand still. But something else runs in my family’s gene pool and it has effected my brother, Kaleb. Born with NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1)Kaleb has undergone numerous surgeries and experimental drugs with little to no results. While Kaleb’s disease has seen centuries of people come and go, diagnosis and research in this field are still relatively young.
After much thought and consideration I have decided to dedicate the next 60+ days to NF Awareness through a personal cross country bike trek spanning from Portland Maine to Portland Oregon. I will keep a daily tracker of my journey on my blog at http://portlandtoportland2015.blogspot.com/
I will be travelling with limited space and therefore limited resources: my phone, tent and sleeping bag along with a few necessary supplies (my mom insists on pepper spray). What I am about to embark on is not unfamiliar. Many roving spirits and bike enthusiasts embark on such treks frequently.
I know many of you may have your reservations and concerns and you are right to. It is a big scary world out there no one knows that better than my brother.
None of us know what the future holds good or bad but I do know I want to be a part in creating and embracing something better, something more than just the ordinary. I want to be a part of the bigger picture and I hope you will support me in my efforts.
With love,
Sphen
*All funds raised will be donated directly to NF1 awareness upon my return, gofundme is one of the many modes I will be using to raise awareness and collect funds for NF1 research.
In the above photo are Kaleb (left) and Myself! :)
This has been a year of changes and challenges for me . As I’ve pondered upon the moves, relationships and disappointments of the last year I came to realize that I am spending way too much time dwelling on what could be rather than what can be and who I want to be.
Already a free spirit by nature (as many of my close friends and family know) it’s just not in my genetics to stand still. But something else runs in my family’s gene pool and it has effected my brother, Kaleb. Born with NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1)Kaleb has undergone numerous surgeries and experimental drugs with little to no results. While Kaleb’s disease has seen centuries of people come and go, diagnosis and research in this field are still relatively young.
After much thought and consideration I have decided to dedicate the next 60+ days to NF Awareness through a personal cross country bike trek spanning from Portland Maine to Portland Oregon. I will keep a daily tracker of my journey on my blog at http://portlandtoportland2015.blogspot.com/
I will be travelling with limited space and therefore limited resources: my phone, tent and sleeping bag along with a few necessary supplies (my mom insists on pepper spray). What I am about to embark on is not unfamiliar. Many roving spirits and bike enthusiasts embark on such treks frequently.
I know many of you may have your reservations and concerns and you are right to. It is a big scary world out there no one knows that better than my brother.
None of us know what the future holds good or bad but I do know I want to be a part in creating and embracing something better, something more than just the ordinary. I want to be a part of the bigger picture and I hope you will support me in my efforts.
With love,
Sphen
*All funds raised will be donated directly to NF1 awareness upon my return, gofundme is one of the many modes I will be using to raise awareness and collect funds for NF1 research.
In the above photo are Kaleb (left) and Myself! :)
Organizer
Cindy Parent Johnson
Organizer
Caribou, ME
