St. Thomas sophomores Kai Olson and Joe Crosetto plan to bike 4,000 miles across the United States in 70 days this summer for the Ulman Foundation’s 4K for Cancer race.

The Baltimore-based Ulman Foundation is an organization committed to creating a support community for young adults impacted by cancer and their loved ones. Olson and Crosetto will be joined by 29 other bikers, ages 18 to 25.

“We do (the ride) to fundraise money for young adults with cancer, as well as to spread awareness,” Crosetto said.

Along their ride, they will stay at campsites, churches, schools and rotary clubs in the communities they pass through. In addition, participants will also be involved in community building and service activities for 10 days.

Kai Olson’s story

Olson, a sophomore studying electrical engineering, is participating in the ride in honor of his neighbor, Gary Bill, who died from prostate cancer. He had a tight-knit relationship with Bill and his wife.

“I started off by going down (to their house) and I’d cut their grass and mow their lawn,” Olson said. “I developed a strong relationship with both of them.”

Olson would help Bill take engines apart, and Bill taught him about various household tools and how to use them. Olson soon began to help Bill with tasks inside the home such as painting.

“In all this time, we’re having good conversation, and he’s passing on wisdom to me about how to be a competent and respectful young man,” Olson said.

Olson knew early on about Bill’s prostate cancer, but he put that in the back of his mind.
“Our visits got shorter and shorter,” Olson said.

The last time he visited Bill, he was showing him his new cross-country roller skis so he could train in the summer.

“He thought they were so cool, he could barely pick up the ski, and it was like a five minute visit because he had to go take a nap again,” Olson said. “He passed away much too early.”

Joe Crosetto’s story

Crosetto, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, is riding for two people, the first being his uncle Fred who died from pancreatic cancer.

“He never really had a direct influence in my life, however he taught my dad how to fish,” Crosetto said.

His dad then taught him how to fish when he was a child.

“You can ask (my dad), one of the things that I identify myself as is a fisherman,” Crosetto said.

When Crosetto was in eighth grade, his wrestling coach had kidney cancer and died.

“We were really close with his family,” Crosetto said. “He was a musky and pike fisherman.”

Before Crosetto’s wrestling coach died, Crosetto told him to bring his son to his cabin in Canada, which they did. During that trip, they caught a 43-inch pike.

“It’s like everything aligned,” he said. “Starting with uncle Fred, who actually taught my dad, who then taught me, and now I’m in this boat now because of it.”

He noted that his connection with cancer is through an activity he enjoys doing, which is fishing.

“It’s kind of lived on, like I’ve had this great experience,” Crosetto said.

How to get ready

The 31 participants in the ride have an 18-week training plan and must ride a total of 500 miles, including two 50-mile rides and one 70-mile ride before they start their journey. Riders are expected to log their hours as they ride.

“The goal with the training is to work up all the way to those two 50-mile and one 70-mile rides,” Crosetto said.

What’s fueling them?

Olson and Crosetto both agree that going across the United States by bike is extremely challenging and requires lots of motivation.

“I like to push myself and do things that other people would find challenging, or even impossible,” Olson said. He said that he recently completed his second 50-kilometer cross-country ski race.

“These extreme environments, I feel like I learn a lot about myself and learn about what I’m capable of,” Olson said. “And at the same time that I’m doing that, be able to help and provide service to other people who really need it.”

Crosetto felt similarly, but also said he will enjoy the bragging rights.

“It’s literally biking across the country,” Crosetto said. “That’s dope.”

Not the first Tommies to do it

In the summer of 2017, senior Andrew Mohama completed the ride from Baltimore to San Francisco. Mohama and Olson are both vice presidents of the St. Thomas Cycling Club, and Olson heard of the race through Mohama. Crosetto was then introduced by Olson.

Mohama participated in the race for two of his friends that have battled cancer, along with three of his four grandparents who died from cancer.

“I wanted to do something,” Mohama said, “and I think we all want to do something when it comes to service.”

Mohama had one word to describe his ride: “unbelievable.”

“It was the most formative experience of my life,” Mohama said. “Never would I thought I would have learned the amount that I did.”

A long awaited ride

Olson has been planning to do the ride since July. Crosetto, from Oak Forest, Illinois, was told of the ride when he came to the Twin Cities to visit Olson.

“As soon as (Olson) told me what he was going to do,” Crosetto said, “I immediately knew that, ‘I’m doing it.’”

How to support

Both Crosetto and Olson have online fundraising sites where they are collecting donations for the Ulman Foundation. They must collect $4,500 before they can participate in the ride.

The funds go toward helping young adults battling cancer, as well as a scholarship for one young adult.

“We get to decide as a group collectively who we think deserves it,” Crosetto explained. “It’s kind of cool.”

The $4,500 minimum wasn’t good enough for either of them, however. Crosetto has a goal of $7,000; Olson has a $6,000 goal. They are able to fundraise while they are riding, as well.

The ride will start on June 2 in Baltimore and end on August 10 in Seattle.

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.