43
CHS alumni biking across U.S. for a cause
Photo
Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Chloe Gebacz, a 2011 graduate of Canfield High School, will embark on a 3,900-mile journey across the United States, by bicycle, with the nonprofit organization Bike and Build.
By ABBY SLANKER
Upon her graduation from Ohio University this spring, Chloe Gebacz, a 2011 graduate of Canfield High School, will embark on a 3,900-mile journey across the United States, by bicycle, with the nonprofit organization Bike and Build.
Along the stops on the trip, Gebacz will be a part of a team of young adults who will stop to build and repair homes as a part of the Affordable Housing movement. On her 75-day trip, she will impact nine different U.S. cities with 11 building days.
Gebacz, daughter of Deana and Ted Gebacz, was inspired to take on this challenge by her want to do something exciting and life-changing. She will never forget her last summer before entering the ‘real world.’
“One of the reasons I’m inspired to do this is because it’s my last big summer before I enter the ‘real world.’ I want to do something exciting and life-changing that I will never forget with my last summer,” she said.
“I had an incredible internship last year in Los Angeles, and when it was winding down I didn’t want to leave. Everyone from work, though, gave me great advice about enjoying my last year of college and making the most of it. One co-worker in particular told me, ‘Anything you want to do or have ever thought about doing, do it now. This could be your last chance.’ That really resonated with me.
“I studied abroad after my sophomore year and my roommate had previously participated in Bike and Build. Once she told me about it, it was an idea I always kept in the back of my mind, but I never really thought I’d do it. After hearing my co-worker’s send-off spiel I decided I had to sign up and just do it,” Gebacz said.
According to Gebacz, Bike and Build organizes cross-country bike trips for young adults to teach them about the Affordable Housing cause, show them how they can help and make a difference, and challenge them physically and mentally, all in just one summer.
“The Affordable Housing cause is one of those problems I always knew existed, but I never really understood the severity of it until I researched Bike and Build. The Department of Housing and Urban Development considers housing for low-income families affordable if the entire cost, utilities and all, comes in at 30 percent or less of that family’s income.
“Currently, over 40 million households in this country do not have affordable housing and over 20 million are severely burdened, meaning over half of their income goes to housing costs. That’s more than the entire state of California. If we woke up tomorrow morning and everyone in California no longer had an affordable home, something would be done. These people, though, are scattered across the nation without a united voice,” Gebacz said.
Participants also help educate people about the Affordable Housing cause along their way.
“We don’t just wake up everyday and bike until we can’t anymore! We spend several ‘break’ days on the trip teaming up and helping to build affordable houses across the U.S. If we aren’t biking or building, we give presentations about the Affordable Housing cause to the communities we stay in to help educate people and start a discussion about this problem that’s happening in our own backyards,” Gebacz said.
In addition to helping people, Gebacz is hoping to gain a little insight into her future as she bicycles across the country.
“This experience will involve a great deal of me and my thoughts alone on a bicycle, so I’m hoping to take away some clarity on what I want to do as a career, as well as learning to let go and not stress so much. I’m also hoping to gain some lifelong friends and great memories,” Gebacz said.
Gebacz credits her experiences at Canfield High School and several people from Canfield with her love of volunteerism and helping those in need.
“I was a very involved student at Canfield and I always remember being encouraged to volunteer. I was in NHS, ran fundraisers, helped organize the Craft Show and even rang the Salvation Army bell outside of Giant Eagle one Christmas. In middle school, I volunteered frequently with the Special Olympics. Because of the activities I was involved in and the people I surrounded myself with, giving back has become a normal part of my life. I also used to frequent the bike path that you can jump onto from the high school’s parking lot. That, and a friend from the Drama Club who took me to my first spin class, introduced me to cycling,” Gebacz said.
Because Bike and Build is a nonprofit organization, a part of Gebacz’s trip is raising $4,500 to help purchase supplies for builds.
“I have currently raised over $2,000, but would love and appreciate some community support and would absolutely love for others to learn about this awesome organization which will provide myself and others with a life-changing summer,” Gebacz said.
Anyone may donate to Gebacz’s trip by visiting www.bikeandbuild.org/rider/7962 or by visiting www.bikeandbuild.org and selecting ‘Donate,’ then choose ‘Gebacz, Chloe (CUS)’ from the drop down list. Interested donors may also write a check payable to Bike and Build with Chloe Gebacz on the memo line and mail to Bike and Build, 6153 Ridge Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19128.