Brothers to bike from Alaska to Argentina to raise money for Habitat for Humanity
FARGO – Three brothers are about to embark on a 20,000-mile bike trip that is mapped out to help a good cause.By: Wendy Reuer, INFORUM
- Isaiah, David and Nathan Berg
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FARGO – Three brothers are about to embark on a 20,000-mile bike trip that is mapped out to help a good cause.
Isaiah, Nathan and David Berg of Starkweather are dedicating their ride to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity in hopes of raising $60,000, the average cost of sponsorship for one family home.
Isaiah Berg, the middle brother, just graduated from Dartmouth College, where he studied geography and economics. The idea of a sustainable bike journey came to him after he led nearly 40 other cyclists on a coast-to-coast bike ride with Bike and Build.
“For me, it was a very formative experience. I fell in love with cycling, that lifestyle and really just being on the road,” Isaiah said. “(Doing) something like this trip was really pulling at my heart.”
It did not take his two brothers long to hop aboard. His older brother, Nathan Berg, a North Dakota State University graduate, plans to work in education once they return from the trip.
Although the oldest, Nathan said he doesn’t have to worry about keeping his younger brothers in check.
“We’re all adults, and those two are adults beyond their years,” he said.
The trip is also perfect timing for youngest brother, David.
He just graduated from Oak Grove Lutheran High School. He plans to attend college next fall and said he will be applying while they are on the trip.
He said his adventurous side led him to join the trip, but he is also happy to be helping Habitat for Humanity.
The trip will be paid for by the three brothers who hope to raise funds through donations and sponsorships along the way. Isaiah Berg said it was important to be able to donate 100 percent of money raised to Habitat for Humanity.
At a send-off party for the brothers Friday evening, Shirley Dykshoorn, executive director of Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity said she was excited for the brothers. She said that although build sponsorships have been done, the Berg’s trip is one of a kind.
“It’s really pretty awesome,” she said.
The brothers will be riding bikes known as “Surly Trolls” which they assembled themselves.
The brothers plan to bike from Anchorage, Alaska, south through Canada and eventually into the U.S., where they will continue south on the historic coastal highway, U.S. Highway 1.
From Mazatlán, Mexico, they will travel through South America, stopping in Argentina.
Dykshoorn said the brothers have contacted Habitat for Humanity affiliates along the route and plan to assist with different builds.
“So any day that we are not biking, we’ll be working along the way,” Isaiah said.
Isaiah plans to document their journey across “Arctic tundra, Central American tropics, mountains, deserts, cityscapes and many other roads less traveled between Alaska and Argentina,” on the blog www.boundsouth.org.
They plan on returning in time for younger sister Marta Berg’s graduation from Starkweather High School next May.
Despite the long trek and timeline, their parents, Jim and Elizabeth Berg, are confident their boys will do well.
“They’ll be just fine,” Jim Berg said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Wendy Reuer at (701) 241-5530
Tags: news, travel, habitat, fargo
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