Delbert Richardson has completed his Cross Country 2004 journey! On January 20 he departed Wichita, KS on a cross-country cycling trip to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis (MS). Sponsored by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Richardson, who was diagnosed with MS in 1997, rode a custom-made, three-wheeled trike with a built-in gas motor to help him complete the planned 14,000 mile, 289-day journey through 48 states.
Updates –
September 27th: Delbert arrived back home in Wichita. Here's the news release: Cyclist With MS Completes Cross-Country Trek for Awareness
September 16th: Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Jeanne have done what MS couldn't do...force Delbert to cut his Cross Country 2004 journey short. The new plan is for him to arrive into Wichita from Augusta on September 27th.
September 6th: The hurricanes which have wreaked havoc for Floridians have also impacted Delbert's travel schedule. His current plan is to head west toward home from Jacksonville, a distance which will take him about 57 days to cycle at his current speed, assuming no weather-related delays. This gives Delbert a target homecoming date of November 1.
August 8th: Monique checked in when Delbert got to Rhode Island, marking the completion of 31 states, 9,681 miles! Only 3,700 miles left to go due to route changes. The lovely Monique and the girls have begun preparations for Delbert's return celebration.
As many of you know, For those that ask about Delbert's daughter Stepheni & her husband Edricque are serving our country in Iraq. They are also the proud parents of a beautiful daughter who will be turning 3 very soon. Delbert and Monique thank you for the positive thoughts and prayers you send!
July 28rd: Attention Syracuse residents....Delbert is in your city tonight! According to his wife Monique, Delbert is beginning to feel some of the presures expected for being on the road so long — physical fatigue and exhaustion as a result of getting into the more mountainous terrain. This has forced him to reconsider traveling through the hills of Vermont and New Hampshire. In the next few days he will make the final decision about these two states. He knows he'll be missing out on their beauty if he avoids them, and it will also force him to omit Maine a no go as well.
He'll also consider seeking some way to transport the trike across these two states so he can still include Maine. He has to be in Newton, Massachussetts on the evening of the August 5th so time is critical.
Delbert also wants to thank everyone for their well wishes and support. Monique reads his email to him during their "check-in" calls and she tells us it lifts his spirits every time!
July 23rd: Delbert reached Buffalo, NY. That brings our total up to 8555 miles and 25 states completed!
July 15th: Delbert is doing well! As of July 13 he has traveled 8000 miles through 24 states. He also spoke at an event in Greensburg, PA on July 14. Delbert expects to travel through Boston, NY, Washington, DC during August.
May 15th: Delbert's wife Monique tells us Delbert is in Spokane, WA after a 98 mile day today and is fine. She and Delbert also send a special thank you goes out to Diana, Joe and Ken. Diana is the Wichita President of the Gold Wing Club and contacted members Joe & Ken who picked Del up and took him into Omak, Washington.
More good news: Delbert's daughter & son-in-law, both serving our country in Iraq and Kuwait, are doing fine.
Crossing America 2004
