Evergreen student cycling across the country for a cause

In just about a week, Katrina Sayre is scheduled to dip her bicycle’s tires in Boston Harbor, signifying the end of the 2012 Ride Against AIDS, a 67-day, nearly 4,000-mile cross-country ride.

The Capital High School 2010 graduate and Evergreen State College junior arrived in Philadelphia today.

“It’s been great,” Sayre, 20, of Olympia, said in a telephone interview. “We’ve been able to make a lot of important connections with people.”

She is joined by 17 other college students from around the country who began their journey on June 18 by plunging their bicycle tires in San Francisco Bay.

The group has been staying with host families and doing presentations along the way about FACE AIDS, a youth-led campaign to raise money to help fight the AIDS epidemic in Rwanda.

So far, Sayre has raised nearly $2,000 for the effort. Her team has raised about $75,000, although they hope to reach $100,000.

Sayre described the experience as “eye opening.”

“It has really grounded all of my goals,” she said. “It’s just been incredibly inspiring. ...I thought I was motivated before, but now it’s incredible.”

To learn more about Sayre’s trip, click here.