On August 8, Betty Adam woke up knowing that it was going to be a day that she put herself to the test. She planned to cycle 100 kilometers (62 miles) and climb 2,025 meters (6,646 feet) to the summit of Going to the Sun Road in Montana as the last challenge of a summer committed to helping people in poverty.

“I was at one kilometer to go when a fellow cyclist slowed as he descended to yell at me, ‘You’re almost there, Betty – keep pedaling,’ so I did just that,” she recalled. “The final curve looked to be a steeper grade, but it was either an illusion or the lure of reaching the top was so strong that I just kept pedaling strongly to the top.”

Betty was one of 41 cyclists who spent 10 days in August cycling 870 kilometers (540.5 miles)  from Jasper, Alberta to Glacier National Park in Montana as part of Sea to Sea. Her climb up Going to the Sun Road marked the completion of her journey and was also the final stage of Sea to Sea 2015.

This was the second Sea to Sea event to take place this summer.  The first event took place in July and included 27 riders in Southern Ontario.  Combined, the 68 riders raised more than $250,000 for World Renew, Partners Worldwide and International Justice Mission.

Betty was one of 41 cyclists who spent 10 days in August cycling 870 kilometers (540.5 miles)  from Jasper, Alberta to Glacier National Park in Montana as part of Sea to Sea. 

Adam, who participated in Sea to Sea 2013 across the United States is an avid cyclist who had put more than 3,350 kilometers on her bike this year before even starting the Sea to Sea West ride. She was eager to get back on her bike for a good cause. In fact, she has cycled for charity for the past 18 summers including rides for Bikes for Bibles (Canadian Bible Society), Sea to Sea, and Love in Motion (Christian & Missionary Alliance Churches of Canada). 

Now that the Sea to Sea West ride is over, she says that the fellowship, scenery, and physical challenges of the ride were everything she hoped it would be.

“This was an extraordinary trip,” she wrote on her blog.  “We had an almost perfect safety record – only a couple of knees were scraped…We also saw SO much wildlife – bears, wolves, elk, moose, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain sheep, mountain goats, marmots, chipmunks and ground squirrels.”  

The weather was also nearly perfect with only one day that had a bit of rain, and one day with a difficult headwind.

“We are so grateful to everyone who participated in Sea to Sea this year,” said World Renew’s Canadian Director, Ida Kaastra Mutoigo.  “The riders who spent time training and cycling, their friends and family who supported them with prayers and financial gifts, Terry Barnes who organized the logistics and the wonderful teams of volunteers to made sure that everything ran smoothly.  Most of all, we’re grateful to God for the way He blessed these events and used them for His Kingdom work. To Him be all the Glory.”

 

While Sea to Sea 2015 has now come to an end, plans are in the works for a cross-North-America ride in 2017.  Stay tuned to seatosea.org for more information.