Riding for a cause

LIHU‘E — On Wednesday Kaua‘i native Jonathan Moeller finished a cross-country bike ride that sought to raise awareness and money in support of International Justice Mission (IJM), an organization that aims to bring  justice to victims of sexual violence, slavery “and other forms of violent oppression.”

At the end of his 3,200-mile ride, Moeller completed what would have been his 28th lap around the entire island of Kaua‘i.

The feat was extra special Moeller said, because IJM is an organization close to his heart.

“The most heinous thing I can possibly think of is rape for profit,” said Moeller. “And I’ve traveled. I’ve seen people in the world who are owned by gangsters. You feel helpless not being able to help them, but by getting money for them [IJM] and supporting them, they can help. They are equipped to help.”

According to its website, “IJM investigators, lawyers and social workers intervene in individual cases of abuse in partnership with state and local authorities to ensure proper support for the victim and appropriate action against the perpetrator. Such collaboration is essential to obtain convictions against individual perpetrators and to bring meaning to local laws that are meaningless if not enforced.”

This isn’t Moeller’s first experience with philanthropic fundraising. In 2010, he kayaked around Kaua‘i in support of IJM. As time went on and he desired to fundraise for the organization yet again, he knew his next feat would have to stand out. So, with no prior road biking experience and no bike, he decided to make the cross-country trip.

“I knew that for the fundraising aspect to work, it would have to stand out,” he said. “Going across the country in a car just wouldn’t be the same.”

After thorough research, preparation and the purchase of a specialized Tricross road bike, Moeller felt he had what it took to start the trip. He began his ride in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 20 and made his way across the southern third of the Mainland, biking upwards of 60 to 100 miles a day. He had carefully planned out the daily ride routes for the first week, but after that he had to plan his routes day-by-day, using only his computer and iPod Touch to view the maps when he needed. He conceded a GPS would have been an intelligent purchase, but regardless, he pedaled on.

“It’s been a lot harder than I thought it would be,” Moeller said.

He said the physical difficulties passed after the first week and he acclimated, but then his struggles progressed from body to bike, and then bike to weather and road conditions. While Moeller did his best to take up every bike tune-up opportunity that presented itself, he remained strong and denied generous offers from passers-by for rides.

“Declining offers for rides when it was pouring rain or the roads were dangerous or in terrible condition was probably the hardest part,” Moeller said.

That and missing his fiancée. Moeller and his girlfriend, Tess Deutsch, got engaged two weeks before he left.

On a nightly basis, Moeller relied on the good faith of people he met on the road for warm showers and friends across the Mainland for places to stay. For that, he said he is grateful.

Upon finishing the trip, Moeller plans to head north to Boston to meet up with Deutsch and then hopefully be able to meet with IJM’s president, Gary Haugen.

To see more about Moeller’s journey, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BikingForJustice or his blog at www.bikingforjustice.com. He is still taking donations in support of his journey, all of which can be done through the click of a button found on his blog page.

Visit International Justice Mission’s website at www.ijm.org for more information about the organization and its current projects.

Ali Vandergon, Special Sections Editor and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 241) or avandergon@ thegardenisland.com.