16-Year-Old Bikes 1,800 Miles For Arthritis Research

By Emily Thornton

Ivan Schmidt is a 16-year-old with a mission — bike 1,800 miles in about 28 days and raise $2,500 for rheumatoid arthritis research and awareness.
Schmidt spent part of his summer, starting July 6, riding his Novara Randonee touring bicycle from Surrey, B.C., Canada to Tijuana, Mexico. He presented the check last Thursday to the Arthritis National Research Foundation’s office in Long Beach.
His inspiration was his grandmother, who he said he calls “Obachan,” as her Japanese name is difficult to translate. She has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since 1992.

“I’ve done other charity things for arthritis research,” Schmidt said.
But he said it was time to do something bigger. After riding a 210-mile family trip last year, he said he felt ready.
“I figured it’s only nine times as long, so shouldn’t be that difficult,” he said. “But I didn’t really count for how hilly California is. That’s what really made the difference.”
Schmidt said he and his father, Mark Schmidt — who accompanied him — probably climbed about 90,000 feet by the end. His aunt Gretchen Schmidt, cousin Connor Zinda, and grandfather Gerald Schmidt also rode part of the way.
“I didn’t really feel much in the legs for awhile,” Ivan said.
The soreness became normal and they kept going.
“You kind of develop a base level of soreness,” Mark echoed.
The pain came despite being in relatively good shape — Ivan runs cross-country for his high school and the pair had taken weekend trips in preparation.
“We started about six months prior, around Christmas time,” he said. “We’d ride 50 or 60 miles a day, going on weekend trips as general training.”
In May, Ivan said he began collecting money and launched a GoFundMe page to raise $2,000.
“I surpassed by goal,” he said. “I was raising before, during and after the trip.”
When he told his friends, he said they didn’t believe him.
“They thought I was joking at first,” he said. “I still think some of them don’t believe me.”

But when he finished?
“A lot of them were pretty shocked,’ he said. “Hopefully they sort of look up to me.”
He added he hopes it sparks something.
“People don’t have to ride 70 miles a day like we did,” he said. “Maybe something more leisurely, like 50 miles. Younger people should be more active.”
As for himself, he said he doesn’t have any big plans.
“My dad jokes about a long ride across the country,” he said. “But for right now, I’m just going to think about the positiveness from this trip, let it all sink in.”
After all, he said he accomplished his goal so far.
“I was trying to promote awareness of how difficult it is for someone else who has arthritis to do this,” Schmidt, who lives in Pasadena, said. “Doing all these marathons and bike trips makes you appreciate being healthy, being able to do something like this.”

http://www.gazettes.com/entertainment/year-old-bikes-miles-for-arthritis-research/article_abcb0946-7a9a-11e6-be5d-cf25583bea8d.html