These Housing Volunteers Are Building Homes While Biking Cross-Country

In a 10-week cross-country bike trip spanning thousands of miles, volunteers from the Fuller Center for Housing are rehabbing and building homes while raising funds for the nonprofit created by Habitat for Humanity’s founder, Millard Fuller. The volunteers are averaging 50 miles a day and are stopping in dozens of communities along the way to rebuild housing for those in need.

Since the first annual ride in 2008, more than 1,600 cyclists have participated to raise more than $4 million for housing. This year's volunteers started on May 27 in La Jolla, Calif., and will end their trip in Wilmington, N.C., the Post Independent reports.

On their trips, volunteers stop to repair or rebuild housing for people in grim situations. Before reaching Roaring Fork, they rehabbed the home of an elderly history buff who blew off both his hands with an explosive during a Civil War re-enactment. His deck was collapsed, his home jammed with junk he no longer wanted, roof and wall repairs were needed.

“While we worked, neighbors came out to watch then joined in, helping clear debris and fix things. It’s great to see a community bond,” said Neil Mullikin, whose Fuller job title is “adventure coordinator.”

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