[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Bursey_Mark.jpg” caption=”Inspired by his sister, who has Down syndrome, Matt Bursey is biking across Canada and the U.S. to raise awareness of people with disabilities.”]McMaster grad Matt Bursey (BA '06) is currently on a 12,000-kilometre trek across Canada and the United States to raise awareness about people with developmental disabilities.

His motivation to begin this journey comes from his sister, who has Down syndrome. The bike trip is an attempt to help others become aware of the hurdles faced by people with disabilities, and at the same time, connect with people across the continent, says Bursey.

Working with the Salvation Army's Lawson Ministries in Hamilton, the Far & Wide Trek for Developmental Disabilities hopes to raise $100,000.

Bursey will be stopping in various cities across North America to speak at schools about society's attitudes towards people with developmental disabilities. He hopes to network with programs similar to the Lawson Ministries to exchange information and learn how these other programs work.

Bursey started his journey on April 3 and has already traveled 2,200 kilometers. He is currently in Kansas. On an average day, he bikes for eight hours and covers 100 kilometers. It is his personal goal to complete the journey by the end of the summer.

“Every day is like a rollercoaster: you wake up some days with the wind at your back and the most incredible views and I get to meet some really amazing people and make great connections,” says Bursey. The last few weeks have been met with struggle, but have also been a great learning experience.

For the most part, Bursey says he has been touched by the generosity of small town America.

“Staying in homeless shelters and addiction centres, I've met people who have made a few mistakes or had the wrong cards dealt to them in their lives, but they have been extremely generous and willing to help me along my trek.”

The compassion of the people he meets has helped him through some of the obstacles he has had to overcome. In Illinois, he awoke to the aftershocks of an earthquake and in Missouri, he had to bike close to 30 kilometres out of his way to avoid flash flooding.

“However, the scariest part of my journey has been being chased by Rottweilers and pit bulls in certain parts of Chicago,” says Bursey.

There were some days when Bursey wasn't sure if he would be able to make it.

“Whenever I feel like giving up, I just think about how much my sister has taught me,” he says. “She is my driving force and my motivation.”

For more information or to read more about Bursey's expedition, please visit his blog at bikingfarandwide.blogspot.com/