Cyclists cross country for wounded vets

PONDERAY — Whenever retired Marine Lt. Col. John Foldberg feels he can’t bike another mile, he simply takes a glance at some dog tags.

Those small bits of metal represent four Marines — Shawn Hefner, David Baker, Brian Lane and Christian Porter — who lost their lives overseas. When Foldberg chose to dedicate his 3,400-mike bike ride across America to their memory, he knew he couldn’t allow his mission to end unsuccessfully. All it takes is a look at those dog tags to remind him of that fact.

“That kind of takes the snivel-factor out of the equation,” he said.

The reality of veteran sacrifice informs everything Foldberg and his three young teammates, Nathan Macfarlane, Evan Gillham and Daniel Macfarlane, will be doing for the next two-and-a-half months. Calling themselves Cross Country Cyclists for Veterans, the group aims to raise $20,000 for veterans assistance nonprofit Semper Fi Fund.

“Our desire is to bring attention and awareness to our wounded veterans,” Foldberg said. “We’re not the story — the story is the men and women we’re doing this for.”

Foldberg decided to initiate a fundraising cycle tour after hearing many stories of injured or amputee veterans returning home and facing their new circumstances with courage and determination.

He opened participation to anyone who could commit to the time requirement and rigorous training process. Teenagers Evan and Nathan and 20-year-old Daniel ultimately joined the cause. Foldberg’s wife, Carrie, also committed to part of the trip as the cook and support van driver.  

The diverse talents represented by CCC 4 Vets team members made assigning responsibilities easy. Nathan handles navigation, photography and technology. Daniel is the second-in-command and put together a training program to prepare for the endurance test. Evan is the chief administrator and treasurer — and once Carrie has to return home, the cook as well. Finally, Foldberg serves as the “benevolent dictator” and spokesperson when giving presentations at community and veteran organizations.  

One of the most crucial choices was selecting a beneficiary for the ride. The team ultimately singled out Semper Fi Fund for several reasons. First, the organization is highly respected and carries top marks from nonprofit watchdog groups. Even better, Semper Fi Fund only carries 6-percent overhead, meaning donations go almost entirely to help rehabilitate veterans. In fact, the organization processes between 40 and 47 claims per day.

After setting out from Anacortes, Wash., on Aug. 1, the four riders arrived in Ponderay Friday afternoon, where Marine Corps League members put them up for a stay at the Holiday Inn Express. From Bonner County, the crew will head through several northern states to New York before veering south. They intend to finish the journey around mid-October in Yorktown, Virg., the historic town where the Revolutionary War was won.

CCC 4 Vets has already raised about 50 percent of their $20,000 fundraising goal. However, they hope to keep up the pace, earning their goal as soon as possible and potentially surpassing it.

“It’s humbling — it really is — and it’s inspiring to see Americans reaching out to our men and women,” Foldberg said.  

To contribute, individuals can donate directly to the Semper Fi Fund by visiting www.semperfifund.org/donate and specifying “CCC4vets” as the event. Donations can also be mailed to CCC 4 Vets c/o Cornerstone Community Church at 7920 Santa Rose Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422. Mailed donations should include street and email addresses. Finally, those who wish to keep up-to-date on the group can do so online at www.ccc4vets.com or on Facebook.