jon schwartz

From left to right, Eden Robins ’00, Katie Aufinger ’00 and Jen Balkas ’00, are biking across the country this summer for Habitat for Humanity. The organization builds houses for low income families.

This summer, Jen Balkus ’00, Eden Robins ’00, and Katie Auffinger ’00, will participate in the Habitat for Humanity Bicycle Challenge. The Challenge, organized by the Yale chapter of Habitat for Humanity, is a nine week biking trip across the United States, designed to raise money and awareness about the cause.

"Katie and I had always talked about driving cross-country, but I think this is a better experience," Robins said. "I think we’ll learn more about the country this way because I’ve never been off of the East Coast."

Out of the 60 riders, 20 are "distant riders" — riders from schools other than Yale. The rest are Yale students. The 60 participants will be divided up into two groups. 30 bikers will take the Northern Route from New Haven to Vancouver, while the other 30 will travel the Southern Route from New Haven to San Francisco.

Balkus, Robins, and Auffinger will be biking the Southern Route, which will take them through New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and then through the Rockies in Colorado and Nevada.

They will leave New Haven on June 3, just five days after graduation, and glide over the Golden Gate Bride on August 5. They will travel a total distance of 3744 miles, riding nearly 80 miles each day.

"When I get [to San Francisco], you better be there to pick me up off the ground and get me a beer," grinned Balkus.

When the weather gets warmer, they will begin taking training rides with their group. In the mean time, the girls are preparing by taking a few extra physical education classes.

"Ice-skating. Really rigorous," Auffinger giggled.

The three expressed excitement and trepidation about the physical intensity of the trip. All three ride their bikes around campus, but said they have not participated in longer bike trips.

"I’ve biked to Wads worth," said Robins. "But never across the state."

"The trip is really physically demanding, but also doable. Anyone who sets their mind to it can do it," claimed Jordan Golencoff, one of the Bicycle Challenge coordinators from Yale.

But sitting in the cozy living room of 45 Home Avenue in mid February, the prospect of such a trip seemed daunting.

"[Right now] I can’t imagine doing it," said Auffinger. "I can’t picture it being my life."

Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission statement calls for "the elimination of poverty housing." Habitat uses volunteer labor and donations to build and rehabilitate affordable housing for low income working families.

Along the route, the riders stop to help local Habitat chapters build houses and talk to communities about the organization.

"Every rider wears a bright yellow jersey, so people are always stopping to ask us what we’re about," said Golencoff. He added that the group usually stays in churches at night and will often give the church members a slide-show presentation.

Participants in the Bicycle Challenge must each raise $3,500 for Habitat for Humanity.

Auffinger, Balkus and Robins have written to family friends and local businesses, but admit that they are having some difficulty raising the necessary funds.

"We’re begging and pleading," said Balkus. "It’s really hard. Harder than I thought."

Robins agreed. "It’s hard to just ask people for money."

"All the money goes straight to Habitat, but I feel like I’m asking them to pay for my summer vacation," said Auffinger.

The three are looking into some creative fundraising alternatives.

"We’re thinking of having a drag-show benefit," Auffinger said.

"A bakesale," Balkus added.

"A lemonade stand," Robins chimed in.

They added that if people wanted to donate, they would really appreciate it.

Balkus originally got the idea for her summer from her former co-Resident Advisor, Christain Donovan ’99, who rode the Bicycle Challenge last summer.

"I talked to him and got information about it," said Balkus. "He loved it. Talked about it all the time. Said it changed his life."