Cameron Smith, a 2000 Carleton graduate, is currently cycling the perimeter of the U.S. in memory of his older sister who died of cancer in 1989.

Smith was featured in a September 17th Boston Globe article entitled, "Cycling in Memory of His Sister".

The trip also raises funds for the Jimmy Fund, an organization that supports the Dana-Faber Cancer institute in Boston. Smith has received many donations from people around the country, succeeding in raising over thirty thousand dollars for the Jimmy Fund. He has also touched the hearts of many individuals who have lost friends and family to cancer.

In addition to raising funds for cancer research, he is pedaling for another purpose. The fourth grade at his hometown school, the Milton Academy Lower School, has been learning from Smith's travels. Smith carries a small two-pound laptop and digital camera to keep in touch with the children. The children will be having bake sales and holding other fundraisers for the cause.

Having majored in history, Smith sends back pictures, postcards, journal entries and emails about his experiences at historic sites he visits along the way. The students also learn a little about geography and politics, and use his trip in math problems.

After a huge send-off from the fourth grade in Boston, Smith rolled South down the East Coast last October. Sweating out 40-70 mile days, he's gone through forests, deserts, plains, and mountains and made it as far as Arizona. He is excited to reach the Pacific Ocean at San Diego, after which he will head north towards Washington.

Despite the exciting places he gets to visit, the trip is not exactly a cakewalk. He sometimes is fortunate to spend nights at friend's houses and at universities, but he is on a tight budget and other times he spends the night on roadsides and backyards. He has camped a few times in below freezing weather, and during the days he risks sunburn. Smith also might not make it home for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Ahead, Smith will go through Canada, Glacier National Park and arrive home in August in time for the Pan Massachusetts Ride, which raises money for the Jimmy Fund. When he finishes, he will have traveled over ten thousand miles in ten months. To contribute to Cameron Smith's fundraiser or just more information on his trip, visit www.milton.edu/Greenleaf/Cam%27s_trip/startingup.html