When I tell people that I have celiac disease, the first thing they say is "What's that?," which is exactly why I'm doing this ride. Estimates are that 1 in 133 people suffer from celiac, yet unless you've been diagnosed with it, you probably have never heard of it. If I can make more people aware of what celiac disease is, then hopefully I can accomplish two things. One, that people who may unknowingly suffer from celiac will get tested and properly diagnosed, and two, that the general public will be more sensitive to those who have celiac.

Right now, simple things like buying groceries at the supermarket or going out to dinner become major sources of frustration because it is difficult to know what I can and cannot eat due to lack of proper labeling or information. Ingrediant labels on items at the store rarely mention whether or not they are gluten-free. Waiters at restaurants don't know what I'm talking about when I say that my meal has to be gluten-free. Little by little, one person at a time, I hope I can help to spread the word about celiac and make life a little easier for those of us who suffer from it.

   I am riding my bicycle coast to coast, from California to Maine, in hopes of spreading awareness and also raising funds for research and education about celiac disease. Why biking? Well, I'm an active person who enjoys a good adventure. So I thought it made sense to combine a fun recreational activity with the serious business of spreading the word about celiac. And by going from one coast to the other, I can get national exposure for this cause, as well as being able to spread the word in towns across the U.S. The trip should take about two months. I hope to start in April and finish up in June.