Illini 4000 for Cancer
The 2012 Illini 4000 Bike America Team
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| Abbreviation | I4K |
|---|---|
| Motto | Uniting Students, Families, and Communities in the Fight Against Cancer |
| Formation | 2006 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization |
| Location | |
| Website | illini4000.org |
The Illini 4000 is a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the American cancer experience through The Portraits Project, raising funds for cancer research and patient support services, as well as spreading awareness for the fight against cancer through annual cross-country bike rides.
The Illini 4000 began as an idea between two University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign students, Jonathan Schlesinger and Anish Thakkar. While both studying abroad in Spring 2006, Anish, who had been involved with early cancer detection research, thought that there was not enough available funding for cancer research. Schlesinger, who had been affected by cancer by a family member, also wanted to contribute to research funding. Upon returning to campus in Fall 2006, the students combined their love for cycling with their determination in the fight against cancer and the Illini 4000 was born. The organization began as a registered student organization at the university but soon became a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization.
Every summer since the Illini 4000 was born, the team sends 20-25 students on a cross country bicycle trip. Each group of riders is named the Bike America Team and completes the journey beginning in late May and finishing in early August. Each day, the team rides between 40–110 miles with a support vehicle carrying their supplies. Before the ride, the members of the organization contact churches, community centers and schools for the possibility of using their facilities for a stayover for the night. Between those places and camp grounds, the team is able to find either a free or cheap place to stay. Also, once a week, the team is given a rest day in which they do not bike. These days give the team a chance to relax and explore the town of the stayover as well as visit hospitals and meet doctors and cancer survivors. In the past, the Bike America teams have been able to visit the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C., the UIC Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
In summer 2007, the first Bike America Team was on the organizations's first cross-country trip. The trip started in New York City and ended in San Diego, California with 18 people riding. In 2008, the 20 rider bike team rode from New York City to Seattle, Washington. In 2009, the 23 riders rode from New York City to Portland, Oregon. For the 2010 ride, 28 riders biked from New York City and finished in San Francisco, California. From 2011 through 2014, the Bike America Team rode from New York City to San Francisco, with the 2012 Team riding through Washington D.C.
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