East Lansing resident Esther Hyejin Chung stands with her fixed-gear Univega bike on Grand River Avenue.
Approximately 3.5 million people will experience homelessness in any given year according to a study done by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty in 2007.
Esther Hyejin Chung, a political theory and constitutional democracy and social relations and policy sophomore, plans on going a long way to help out those without a home — 1,300 miles, to be exact.
Chung will be riding her bicycle to raise money for Habitat for Humanity in the Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure 2009. Chung, along with a group of 20 other riders from across the nation, will leave from St. Joseph, Mich., on Friday. Riding at a pace of 50 miles a day, the group will be stopping along the way to build houses, speak to communities and spread the Fuller Center mission, said Ryan Iafigliola, the trip’s leader.
“I love building houses and I love riding bikes,” Chung said. “This might be the only time in my life where I can give back like this.”
Chung decided to participate in the bicycle fundraiser after hearing from a friend who was planning on taking the ride. While the bicycling aspect appealed to her, Chung said the real reason she felt so attracted to the fundraiser was because homelessness is a cause she feels passionate about.
The Fuller Center operates in 50 cities and 14 countries, one of which is El Salvador. Chung plans to use her funds to support efforts in El Salvador.
“If I was just doing this for myself, I’d probably give up after the first 100 miles,” Chung said. “But knowing people are relying on me for this money to build houses will keep me going.”
On Aug. 16, the group will arrive in Panacea Park, Fla., which is just south of Tallahassee..
All told, the group hopes to raise $200,000 for various Fuller Center projects around the world. Chung has set a personal goal of $5,500, although the goal has proven challenging to reach with her primary donors being college students.
“I’ve gotten a lot of support from people offering to help me train or offering to make me a playlist,” she said. “It’s just challenging to get them to actually open their wallets.”
Kory Boeke, one of Chung’s donors from St. Cloud, Minn., said Esther used Facebook to get the word out about her journey.
Boeke met Chung while they were both building houses in Guatemala. He said the donation process was very easy and he wished the group the best of luck.
Donations can be made at fullercenter.org/programs/students/bikedonations/. To donate specifically to Chung, simply enter her name on the donation form.
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