On July 15, Pat McAleer flew from Richmond, VA, to Seattle, WA, dipped his bike in the Pacific Ocean at La Push, WA, and embarked on Ride Pat Ride—a solo, 5,000+ mile, three-month journey to the Atlantic Ocean at Virginia Beach, VA, all to raise money for type 1 diabetes (T1D) cures.
We last checked in with Pat near the end of August, as he was about to enter Minnesota, and he continued on through Wisconsin to Chicago. Since then, he’s made it all the way to New York City! We caught up with him a few days before that just outside of Syracuse, when he was around 3,200 miles into his 5,000+ mile journey.
Pat + People
Pat says the biggest change in the second half of his ride has been, well, people!
“The first half of the trip from the Pacific to Chicago was definitely characterized by not knowing many people, and just being on my own,” he said. “Now, it’s characterized by engagement with people I know, and people I didn’t know, but am now meeting because of the groundswell of enthusiasm around Ride Pat Ride.”
That began in Chicago, when Pat was joined by his cousin… Pat for the journey to Union Pier, Michigan.
“That was a really cool day, because it was the first time I had ridden with anyone at all during this whole trip!” Pat said.
After the two Pats split, he made a beeline across the mitten of Michigan to Detroit and the Gordie Howe International Bridge before cycling across it into Ontario, Canada. From there, Pat says he got ‘in the zone’ while riding, hugging the shore of Lake Erie all the way to Buffalo, New York, arriving three days later at 4 a.m.
“My last day in Canada, I did 140 miles, which I never ride that far,” Pat said. “Just because I felt great and I was on rail trails, riding in the dark—I have a great light set up. And it’s safe because there’s no cars.”
A Group Ride for T1D
In Buffalo, Pat met up with 19 of his friends from around the country for a group ride across New York State, following trails along the Erie Canal to Albany before taking the Empire State Trail down to New York City. Participants raised money for Breakthrough T1D like Pat, as well as two other charities.
But the first stop was a visit to Pat’s mother-in-law’s house.
“My mother-in-law and her neighbor had a huge lunch for all 20 guys, you know, and all these aunts and grandmothers are putting together a meal for us,” Pat said. “I almost felt like, oh wow, I’m back in my home turf!”
In Fairport, NY—just outside of Rochester—Pat met with the Breakthrough T1D Western and Central New York Chapter, including Chapter Director Matt Stefan and board member Karen Dugam.
Later on in Syracuse, he was interviewed by Megan Coleman, an anchor for regional NBC affiliate CNYCentral whose son, Henry, was diagnosed with T1D about a year and a half ago.
“Megan said he’s been enthralled with your journey, he’s been tracking you,” Pat said. “So I went over, kind of went off the trail, and met Henry for like 20 minutes—we just hung out, talked, and took a picture or two.”
Pat says engagements like this are the “fuel that keeps you going” on this trip.
On a more somber note, a chance meeting with a man named Joe in a Michigan cornfield where Pat had stopped to rest is another reminder of the impacts of T1D—his wife of over 20 years had recently passed away due to complications from the condition.
“That conversation will stay with me as a reminder of the work that needs to be done,” Pat said. “The research to find cures, to address the prevention issues and pre-screening, and then treatment.”
‘Feral Pat’
Pat’s biggest adjustment to riding as part of a big group? Simply being around so many people!
“We’re all just a bunch of jokers, you know, and they’ve taken to calling me ‘feral Pat’” Pat said. “Because I’m like a feral cat—used to being outdoors and skittish around people. Now, I’m sleeping indoors, using silverware, and learning when I drop my food that I don’t just pick it up off the ground and eat it!”
“I’m looking forward to being around more people as I get closer to home, especially my family,” he added.
Outside of ‘feral Pat,’ he says the biggest adjustments to being part of the group has been matching their pace, enjoying the benefits of a support vehicle carrying his bags and staying in hotels instead of camping on his own.
“I usually cruise along at a nice, easy pace,” Pat said. “Sometimes this group, when they hammer down, it’s harder for me to keep up.”
Support Pat Your Way
Pat’s transcontinental journey was made possible thanks to Breakthrough T1D Your Way, our DIY fundraising platform that puts you at the controls with your custom campaign idea (it doesn’t have to be a cross-country ride!), while we handle all the tools and support you need to make it happen.
If you’re feeling inspired to get out on your bike but don’t have three months to spare, try Breakthrough T1D Ride! We’ve got five destinations across the country in 2026, or you can join in anywhere, anytime with My Ride.
And stay tuned—Pat is posting updates from the road on his Instagram and Facebook pages, and we’ll be following along with articles right here on BreakthroughT1D.org.
