NDSU senior Abe Kolstad is on the adventure and challenge of a lifetime. The mechanical engineering major is biking across the country as a salute to his older brother, Isaac, and to raise funds for the charities that helped him.
Isaac suffered major injuries when he was assaulted in May 2014, and now Kolstad is attempting to thank the organizations that helped his brother and assist other families in need.
"Over the course of the last year, I met a lot of people with pretty terrible stories that were struggling financially with all the various costs of having a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. I thought that this would be a way that I could help take care of some of the financial worries for these people," explained Kolstad, who is from Mankato, Minnesota.
His bike trip began May 21 in Newport, Oregon. Kolstad hopes to put down his kickstand shortly after Independence Day in Atlantic City, New Jersey. When he's done, he will have pedaled more than 3,000 miles.
Kolstad's trek is raising money for the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute of Minneapolis and similar organizations. His goal is $40,000.
Kolstad calls his effort "Coast 22 Coast," a tribute to the number his brother wore while he played football at Mankato East High School and Minnesota State University, Mankato. Issac also played at NDSU during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
"The trip's been very difficult for me physically – so far, I have averaged about 80 miles a day," Kolstad said. "The most difficult part for me has been going over the mountain passes."
But, as he labors through all kinds of weather and terrain, Kolstad keeps going. His brother remains his focus, but Kolstad finds that his thoughts wander a little.
"Just about everything goes through my mind. A lot of the time I find myself singing out loud," he said. "Other times, I'll think of jokes that kids used to say in elementary school. And sometimes I'm just enjoying the scenery around me."
Kolstad said the first weeks of his cross-country effort have been the best of his life, and he has words of encouragement for fellow NDSU students.
"There's no better time to start an adventure than now. There are always new places to go and new people to meet," he said. "There are also a lot of people in need out there, so please try to help out whatever way you can, whether it's through donating or volunteering for organizations. Every little bit helps someone."
For more information about Kolstad's fundraising trip, visit http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/coast-22-coast-improve-the-quality-of-life-for-others-/336553.
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