Charity Mission to Conquer Americas Taking Shape

09-01-2009 Charity Mission to Conquer Americas Taking Shape

By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter, The Korea Times, National English Newspaper.

One man's mission to conquer the Americas in [2012] in aid of charity is starting to take shape.

Canadian Brian Perich, 36, who lives in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, is bidding to raise thousands of dollars for the Canadian and American branches of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.

The journey awaiting him is mammoth: from a standing start in Anchorage, Alaska, onto the Canadian Arctic and all the way down to Argentina and the southernmost portion of the continent.

And now he has secured an event promoter, interest from possible riding companions and the bike to be used for the expedition.

``I now have IDEAS (the Intestinal Disease Awareness and Education Society) going to organize my campaign and do all the management, so things are going well. [Robert Hill], Mountaineer and Crohn's survivor founded IDEAS and he is leading a team up Kilimanjaro with IBDadventures to raise awareness and charity support for IBD-inflammatory bowel disease research for a cure. Hill started the IBDadventures group and is campaigning as a Crohn's survivor to climb the world's seven highest peaks, including a bid for Mount Kilimanjaro in September" said Perich, who is the man behind Korea expat cycling group Cycling International.

``I have had a couple of people approach me (about the possibility of joining in). One said he is really interested and the second guy rode across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

``The other good thing is I have now got a sponsorship donation in the form of the expedition bike from Commuter Bicycles in Santa Barbara in California."

While donations have yet to start rolling in, Perich said he is delighted with the response there has been to his grand plan, which is dubbed ``One Cycle, One Man (+Riders), One Charity, Global Bike from the Arctic."

He also revealed that he is using the world expedition being undertaken by Danish cyclist Nicolai Bangsgaard and a Canadian coast-to-coast adventure as inspiration for his trek.

``Nicolai Bangsgaard is actually riding the same bike as I am going to be using. He is going around the world until 2010. He isn't doing his for charity, but I have sponsored him by paying for his wheels," continued Perich.

``I have also seen the video of the two riders who, with John C. Scott of IDEAS organizing their events (Perich's campaign manager) ― Vin Heney and Greg Mailloux ― did the coast-to-coast, finishing in September last year, and I've only had about two weeks. They raised $68,000 Canadian and that's before even releasing the video on DVD. Their fund-raising tour is available at http://www.rubbersidedownmovie.com"

As well as his passion for cycling, Perich counts as another plank of his motivation a close family member who suffers from Crohn's, an inflammatory disease of the intestines.

``I have a strong drive to do this," he added.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the expedition, donating to the cause or cycling groups in Korea can contact Perich at 010-2657-5126 or e-mail tesol2000@gmail.com.

bk@koreatimes.co.kr