Pedaling with a Purpose

Pedaling with a Purpose – Califorkids Trip Nears Completion

Community service is always in style. How to go about doing it is limited only by one’s imagination. Take Scott Finamore, for example. About a year ago this 23 year old Poland, Ohio native tossed an idea at his buddy 19 year old Sam Malaska of Youngstown. Finamore was in need of an adventure, (“I’m an outdoors kind of guy,” he states), so he proposed a bike trip. But not just any bike trip. “I thought it would be neat to ride out to California to visit people I know there and in the process really see America.” Malaska thought Finamore was nuts – at first; but once he kicked the idea around, Malaska was on-board.

In the process of talking to friends and family about their road trip, someone made a suggestion. Bike ride across the country = cool idea. Bike ride across the country to help out a worthy cause = excellent idea. Now pedaling with a purpose, Finamore and Malaska are a little more than a week away from their San Francisco destination as they raise money for Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley.

The duo left May 9 at 5:00 a.m. from the Cycle Sales of Boardman parking lot. Armed with two bicycles and a bicycle trailer to haul needed supplies, Finamore and Malaska headed west embarking on the ride of a lifetime. Naming their trip Cali For Kids, the guys have already traversed Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and are presently biking through Utah. Interested parties can follow the pair via their website www.califorkids.com. Click on the link “Track Our Progress, to read the blog entry reports written whenever they get a chance.

To date, the trip has remained pretty trouble free except for a few spills, broken wheel spokes and a broken brake. The pair reports their most memorable moments revolve around, yes the weather that dictates their days, but more importantly the people they meet. “The people are absolutely incredible,” Finamore states. Reading through their blog, it’s easy to see just how giving and caring Americans really are.

While many have helped the Cali For Kids riders along the way, the guys report their fund-raising efforts have fallen short. Their goal was to raise $15,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley’s charity program that provides medical care for children whose families can’t afford it. To date, their total raised is about $6,000. Finamore hopes they can link up with a charitable group who will match the funds they raise during the trip.

According to an article that ran in the June 15 issue of the Youngstown Vindicator, “They’ve made it easier for people to show financial support, adding a Paypal connection to their Web site. The site provides an opportunity for people to sponsor the ride — by the mile or by the day. Corporate sponsorships are also available. Donations will be accepted until July 1. All donations should be made out to “Cali for Kids” and mailed to P.O. Box 14098, Poland, OH 44514.

Keep track of the adventures of Finamore and Malaska as they finish up their 3,000 mile excursion at www.califorkids.com. The pair hopes to ride into San Francisco June 29 marking the end of a wonderful experience, and the beginning of, quite assuredly, many speaking engagements back home in Y-Town.