Local teen joins group cycling across U.S. to benefit veterans

There have been plenty of flat tires, missed turns, falls, mechanical issues, cold mornings, sizzling days and even a few rounds of vomiting on the side of a highway.

And that’s only through day 10 of a 48-day mission to bicycle across the U.S. to support veterans.

“We’ve had some hiccups but we’ve overcome them,” said Oliver Van Everen.

The Whitefish teenager is among the pack of eight young cyclists from St. Paul School in New Hampshire taking on the challenge. The group stopped in Whitefish on Sunday after a big push from Lake Koocanusa.

Van Everen explains that it’s a school tradition for students to bike across the country in support of Ride 2 Recovery — a cycling-based therapy program for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries or post traumatic stress disorder.

“They believe cycling is therapeutic,” Van Everen explained. “You’re on your bike, you’re relaxed and peaceful, and that’s a means of treatment.”

The group has the goal to raise $100,000 for Ride 2 Recovery, of which they’ve already raised $90,000.

The teens will meet with local veterans nearly each night of the 3,800-mile ride that ultimately ends at the Atlantic coast in New Hampshire.

On Sunday, the Whitefish VFW Post 276 hosted the cyclists with a picnic at City Beach.

“Just about every night we’ve had a barbecue with VFW groups,” Van Everen said. “That makes it even more special.”

Van Everen was drawn to the challenge for the adventure and to benefit the cause. He was hardly a seasoned cyclist before setting out on the ride, but his experience on the saddle was far greater than others in the group.

“Last summer I rode RATPOD (a Montana ride benefiting Camp Mak-A-Dream), which is 150 miles,” he said. “But a few of the kids hadn’t gone more than 40 miles in a day.”

All that changed on day 1 as the group pedaled away from the Washington coast in Anacortes to Concrete where they were greeted by the mayor at a barbecue.

The 66-mile day was just a warm up.

Day 2 featured the ultimate test piece, a grueling 6,000-foot climb up Washington Pass.

“It was a huge pass none of us were prepared for,” Van Everen said. “That was rough.”

But all survived and managed to wake up the next morning, shake off the pain and push forward.

The group is averaging about 70 miles a day, which will go up as the ride goes on. A support car is carrying food and camping supplies.

Tuesday they planned to climb Glacier Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road.

“It’s all downhill from there,” Van Everen said smiling. “We’re all loving it and we’re really excited to keep going.”

Follow the group and donate online at www.spscyclists2015.com.