Matt Barbaccia raising money and awareness
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Traveling at 15 miles per hour is just about the perfect speed to see America, said Matt Barbaccia, who has been bicycling across America for the last seven weeks.
Barbaccia, a recent college graduate from Rochester, New York is biking 4,000 miles across America to raise money and awareness for Parkinson Disease. Barbaccia started his journey in Jacksonville, Fla. on Feb. 27 and will finish his trip a couple weeks from now in San Francisco, Calif. He logs 60 to 110 miles per day.
“I’ve never really been a bike enthusiast, but the idea of pedaling across America still really appealed to me,” he said. “But now that I’m doing it I’ve really come to appreciate it.”
Barbaccia was motivated to make his ride across America to raise awareness for Parkinson’s after watching his Uncle Mark’s health deteriorate. His uncle, a musician, was diagnosed with the disease in 2000, and the disease has had a devastating affect on his career and quality of life.
Barbaccia is keeping a blog of his journey, which includes inspirational messages and photos from his trip. His blog and other social media platforms allow his friends and followers to follow his journey through his photos and other posts.
“My blog isn’t just dry information about why people should care about Parkinson’s disease,” he said. “I try to introduce them to the interesting and educational places I’m visiting along the way and let them be a part of the adventure.”
Barbaccia leaves time for spontaneous side trips and detours to places that pique his curiosity along the way.
“My trip was never about speeding through America from point A to point B,” he said. “I make a point to stop at historical spots along the way.”