An Owensboro student will join a group of 11 Western Kentucky University students to embark on a bike trip across the United States to raise awareness and funding for the Alzheimer’s Association.

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Trip Carpenter of Owensboro is a sophomore from WKU, and is currently studying at Harlaxton in the United Kingdom.  Trip is also in  WKU's Honor College, a member of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, and a Spirit Master.

The trip across the states, formerly known as Fijis Across America, is now known as Bike4Alz. The 3,000-mile journey begins May 25 in International Falls, Minn., and ends in Key West, Fla.

Other participants are: John William Owens and Will Garcia, both of Louisville; Dylan Ward of Hartford; Austin Lanter and Ben Harris, both of  Winchester; Sam Wells of Paris; Jonathan Caron (driver) and Kent Jones, both of Somerset; Tyler Wittmer of Evansville, Ind.; and Josh Amos of Bowling Green. You can check them all out here.

 During the three-month bike ride, Bike4Alz will stop in several major metropolitan areas to hold events with the local Alzheimer’s Association chapters. The group’s goal is to raise $175,000 to benefit the organization and raise awareness about the disease.

 “Alzheimer’s is a growing problem in America that costs the nation millions of dollars annually,” Lanter said. “One of Bike4Alz goals is to show people that college students are capable of making a difference. The money we raise will hopefully bring researchers closer to finding a cure for the disease.”

Trip told me, “I can't wait to return to the states and start riding for Alzheimer's!”

To see a video about the Bike4Alz project, visit here.

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