4 days ago
Biking 4,000 miles to help homeless veterans
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Gage Matzen is on a 4,228-mile mission across America.
'I've always loved big adventures that are physically tough,' Matzen said.
The Tea, South Dakota native is biking the TransAmerica Trail, which begins in Yorktown, Virginia. He set off in early May, and he hopes to reach his final destination in Astoria, Oregon in early August.
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'I'm making good progress, I think. The days should pick up with mileage as well as the trip has been going on. A couple days ago, we did 80 and then another 70 miles after that,' Matzen said.
The reason he's biking across the country is to raise money to help those who have served. Last summer, Matzen volunteered for a day at the Veterans Community Project of Sioux Falls.
'At my last job in Sioux Falls, we did a volunteer opportunity at VCP and had the opportunity to go out, build some frames, some walls, and the houses and hear some testimonials,' Matzen said. 'It just kind of struck home for me.'
From support services to a home of their own, the nonprofit provides veterans with resources to help them get back on their feet. To Matzen, this was eye-opening.
'Just hearing those stories really solidifies how awesome that organization is and why I want to help raise money for it,' Matzen said.
So, as any other 'aspiring TransAmerica Trail rider' would do, he told the staff in Sioux Falls his plan and began preparing for his ride across the country.
'He had expressed sort of a bucket list thing to bike across the country. What he told Kaelyn, who he's been working with, is he wanted to do this for somebody else. He wouldn't quit,' Veterans Community Project of Sioux Falls executive director John Holter said. 'He was motivated by helping someone else.'
With no government funding, the Veterans Community Project relies on donations and volunteers. Right now, the organization is adding another row of homes to the Sioux Falls village to help more veterans get a fresh start.
'Paying the light bill, helping finish out building the village- all that money goes to helping house homeless veterans,' Holter said.
Helping others is a big part of Matzen's goal, but it's also about pushing himself.
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'A couple of years ago, I was involved in a drunk driving accident. We were hit head-on on a highway, and thankfully, myself and my passengers were okay, but my ankle was put into a pilon fracture and shattered,' Matzen said. 'I spent a good year and a half or two years in and out of surgeries and recovery.'
Now, back on his feet, Matzen is biking not only to challenge himself, but to inspire others.
The trek across America is no small feat, and it requires plenty of rest days, resilience and even the kindness of strangers.
'I've been approached by so many people. 'Are you biking across? Are you doing the TransAmerica Trail?' And they try to buy you dinner,' Matzen said. 'I had a lady come up to me at the gas station as I was riding my bike while I was eating a snack. She said, 'Do you have a place to stay tonight?' She's like 'I'm always looking for cyclists and we love hosting. You guys are so much fun.''
It wasn't long before Matzen realized he wasn't alone on this mission. What started as a solo ride to help veterans has grown into a shared journey with cyclists from around the world.
'Along the way, I've met at least ten other cyclists doing this, and now I'm actually rolling with three guys: one from California, a guy from London, U.K., and a guy from West Virginia. So, we've been rolling together, and then we actually met two other gals from the Netherlands,' Matzen said. 'We rode with them for a few days, and the whole last week has flown by because we've been hanging out and riding together.'
Each biker has their own story, their own goals, and their own reason to keep moving forward. For Matzen, it means pedaling across the same country that so many have fought to protect.
You can follow along with Matzen's journey, and you can also donate to help him reach his fundraising goal and support veterans in Sioux Falls.
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