Riding to increase autism awareness
COEUR d'ALENE - This coming June, Jacob Styer, Wayne Pignolet, Mel Dick and Al Lemire will bicycle 3,000 miles across the continental United States, crossing plains, climbing mountains and riding through rain, snow or lightning storms.
They'll finish the journey in about a week.
"It started with four guys sitting around a campfire and deciding they wanted to do a race across America," said the 51-year-old Pignolet, an avid cyclist who lives in Sandpoint. "The very cool part of this is we're raising money and awareness for autism."
The four riders and their support team are preparing for the Race Across America (RAAM), a non-stop, coast-to-coast voyage from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md. Riding all day and through the night, the team will be in constant motion - one man always in the saddle, the others sleeping or eating, the whole operation crossing the country at a rapid pace.
Each racer plans to ride about 110 miles every day, resting only when necessary. It will be a grueling test.
"(Last) year they had hailstorms," said Styer, 32, of Sandpoint. "The highest part in Colorado is 10,000 feet, and it snowed on 'em."
Team Laughing Dog, their outfit is called - named after the popular brewery in Sandpoint, a primary sponsor. Through word of mouth, a website and social networking, the team hopes to raise $1 million to support families with autism, particularly in North Idaho.
Their goal, the teammates said, is that 100,000 people donate just $10 each.
"It's been so easy to get people to pitch in and help out," Pignolet said. "The whole thing, the energy, has been cool. What we saw is a need to help local families with services that help save lives. Race Across America is a 24/7 race. And autism, for many families, is a 24/7 challenge as well."
The team was in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday night for the Benefit to Fight Autism, hosted by Vertical Earth in Riverstone. Gourmet food simmered in big metal pans, micro-brewed beer flowed from the tap, and a live band played a few tunes on a stage in the corner.
"Just to race across America, getting a local team doing it, is something we'd like to be involved with," said Vertical Earth owner Mike Gaertner. "It'll be a real good challenge for 'em. Like any ultra-endurance event, you've go so many ups and downs. There's going to be hardships. It's quite an undertaking, for sure."
For an expeditionary race like RAAM, logistics are always expensive. Team Laughing Dog needs $40,000 for food, gasoline, airfare and lodging - everything necessary to feed and transport four hungry riders and 14 crew members.
The event at Vertical Earth helped defray some of those costs, with guests paying a slight fee for food and beverages, and bidding on items for sale at silent and loud auctions.
Nate Naff of Coeur d'Alene attended the benefit Saturday. His 10-year-old son, Elijah, has autism.
"We're blessed, he's high-functioning," Naff said of his son. "And we live in an area where we have the Autism Society."
He said Team Laughing Dog's endeavor is "fantastic."
"Any light they can shine, any money they can throw at research, I'm happy for," Naff added. "I'll bet everybody in here knows somebody who's affected by (autism) somehow."
Lisa and David Barth of Sandpoint came to Vertical Earth to support the Laughing Dog crew. Their son, 12-year-old Jackson, also attended. David will travel with the race team in June, helping out wherever he can.
"Our son has autism, so he's one of the inspirations for the team," David said. "(I'll be doing) anything from driving to assisting a rider with transitions, feeding the riders, helping them change their clothes, doing laundry ... for seven days, 24 hours a day is pretty ridiculous."
Some of the money raised by Team Laughing Dog will benefit the Panhandle Autism Society, a Coeur d'Alene-based nonprofit that provides support for autistic families. Its programs include support groups and a summer camp for children.
According to executive director Denise Wetzel and board president Amy Yardley, the Panhandle Autism Society would like to provide more services in the northern Panhandle. Team Laughing Dog, with its dedication to fundraising and awareness, might make that goal possible.
"There's a lot of energy," Yardley said. "People are really enthusiastic about racing, and about the team. It's going to be an amazing feat to complete the Race Across America. You can't quit. You have to just keep going. There are so many parallels between this race and being a parent of a child with autism."