Former Firefighter Raises Money for Charity by Cycling Across America

Cycling for a Cause: A Cross-Country Adventure by Joe Matthews

Readers will gain the benefit of Joe’s insights, and maybe even learn a thing or two about themselves.

You might be wondering how we can be describing a feel-good story that encompasses the Soviet invasion of Ukraine, 9/11, young burn victims, two knee replacements, a broken clavicle and a mind-bending, treacherous journey across the country.

It’s because some people are observers and some people are doers. Joe Matthews, a retired New York City firefighter, falls in the latter category. Rather than stand on the sidelines for some of the biggest stories of our century, Joe sought to participate, to make a difference in the only ways available to him, to see the world for what it was and celebrate the grandeur of its cities, landscapes and people.

Cycling for a Cause: A Cross-Country Adventure is his story.

A Daunting Journey, A Worthy Cause

Amazingly, Joe’s three full days amid the rubble of the World Trade Center during that fateful moment in history is but a footnote to his tale. 

The heart of this book is the decision by the author — a 62-year-old man with two surgically replaced knees — to attempt to cycle more than 3,600 miles across America and, in the process, raise money for Ukranian refugees.

When he gets the idea, many in his inner circle feel he’s nuts. “What was I thinking,” he’ll even ask himself, perhaps using the challenge as motivation. 

In Cycling for a Cause, Matthews lets us feel the rhythm of the ride. First, he takes us through the preparation, setting up a fund for the World Central Kitchen and then reviewing his checklist of maps, supplies, equipment, clothing, hotels, hills and weather patterns. Much of it takes place on the fly, not planned more than a few days in advance.

Then writing in loose diary form and documenting daily events, readers feel they are next to Joe at the daily hotel breakfasts, at the crossroads of difficult terrains, feeling the weight of his baggage, sucking it up when Joe sucks it up. Something about the routine is both comforting and compelling.

New Sense of Wonder — and Self-Doubt

The author effectively tracks the people and places along the way — from the majestic scenery to the lonely towns; from the fascinating barroom personalities to random characters one meets along the way on any such adventure. They all have a place in helping to define the vastness of our culture and who we are.

One feels and appreciates Joe’s sense of wonder, his tendency to grab for the gusto in life, and his need to help others less fortunate than him.

Joe lets you inside his head, how he processes what he sees, how he copes with the physical toll, and how doubts creep into his mind that maybe he should call it quits at various stages. At day 37, for example, he takes deep personal reflection and questions his purpose and his resolve.

Insightful Story Where Anything’s Possible

What he learns, and what he hopes to instill in others, is that anything is possible.

There’s great symbolism when, before he begins his trek, he respectfully dips his bicycle tires into the ocean, hoping he can repeat the ritual on the other coast.

“The adventure has offered me incredible experiences and opportunities,” writes Matthews. “I’ve crossed paths with remarkable individuals and overcome numerous obstacles … Through it all, I have gained profound insights about myself and the world around me.”

Through Joe Matthews, readers will gain the benefit of those insights, and maybe even learn a thing or two about themselves.