Fuller Center's bicycle mission begins when pedaling stops

By Kim Kimzey for GoUpstate.com – Spartanburg Herald News
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 
Spartanburg, S.C. 

Volunteers cycling across the country on a 2,500-mile journey made a stop in Spartanburg and repaired two homes during the past few days. The volunteers are participants in the third annual Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure, which raises awareness and money for The Fuller Center for Housing, a ministry with a mission “to provide adequate shelter for all people in need worldwide.”

Ryan Iafigliola is leading the bicycle trip. Iafigliola, director of international field operations with The Fuller Center, said cyclists left Niagara Falls, N.Y., on June 20 and are about 1,500 miles into the tour. They arrived here Saturday and are scheduled to leave today. About 1,000 miles remain before the group reaches the end of the tour in New Orleans.

Iafigliola said six volunteers plan to travel the entire route. Others have joined the group for shorter distances. They have dealt with scorching heat, thunderstorms, flat tires and “fluke injuries,” but Iafigliola said the biggest challenge is the “day-to-day grind.” They cycle an average of 70 miles per day. Nights are usually spent sleeping on church floors.

“We want to be sure that all the money we raise is going toward the work, so we’re not paying for hotels or fancy meals. We’re just living off what we can get for cheap or free; that way all the money we raise goes toward the work,” he said.

Read the rest of the story, and how the bike team helped the Spartanburg Fuller Center covenant partner, from the Spartanburg Herald Journal.