Embarking on a cross-country cycling odyssey requires a lot of planning. For Pat McAleer, the journey began in 2009, when his daughter Mary Kate was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at 10 years old, as she navigated the daily challenges of this condition with incredible strength.
“Since then, my wife Molly and I have been 100 percent committed to improving the lives of people with T1D,” Pat said.
That commitment is what led to Ride Pat Ride. On July 15, Pat flew from Richmond, VA, to Seattle, WA, dipped his bike in the Pacific Ocean at La Push, WA, and embarked on a solo, 5,000+ mile, three month journey to the Atlantic Ocean at Virginia Beach, VA—all to raise money for T1D cures.
“I wanted to take on a challenge that’s both physically difficult and that would offer an opportunity for me to fundraise in a way that is uniquely my own,” Pat said. “Riding my bike across the United States for three months felt like the right way to push myself while supporting an important cause.”
Pat has already raised almost $150,000 toward his base goal of $250,000. And since he and Molly are personally covering all expenses, all donations are going directly to Breakthrough T1D, powering the research that’s improving life with T1D as we drive toward cures.
The Journey So Far
Following his July 15 start at the Pacific Ocean in La Push, WA, Pat almost immediately hit a snag just 6 miles in when a stick on the road tore off his derailleur, rendering the bike inoperable. After hitching a ride to Forks, WA, followed by a bus to Port Angeles, he got things fixed up and was quickly back on the road, climbing over the 5,477 foot Washington Pass in the North Cascades mountains on Day 5.
Then, he pedaled on through wildfire smoke and falling ash while wearing a respirator mask before climbing the 5,575 foot Sherman Pass, transited through the Idaho panhandle, and entered eastern Montana, where he passed through Glacier National Park, crossed the continental divide, and rolled out of the Rocky Mountains and into the high prairies in the central portion of the state.
Throughout this, he’s been hauling everything he needs on the bike with him—that includes food, clothes, spare parts and repair tools, a full camping kit, and a solar bike computer.
Coming Up Next
Pat is currently in eastern Montana, and he’s still got a long way to go! He’s following the Adventure Cycling Association’s Northern Tier Route for much of the journey, which means he’ll be passing through North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, before reaching Buffalo, NY.
There, he’ll join a group of friends donning Ride Pat Ride Breakthrough T1D jerseys before they follow the Erie Canal to Albany and turn south to New York City. While in NYC, Pat will sit down with Breakthrough T1D CEO Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., for a discussion about T1D and his cross-country journey.
Finally, he’ll head back down to home in Richmond, VA, via Washington, D.C. and Fredericksburg, MD before finishing at the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, dipping his bike into the Atlantic Ocean 5,000+ miles and three months from when he left the Pacific at La Push, WA.
“I hope to personally connect and perhaps ride with others—particularly those impacted by T1D,” Pat said. “If you live along my route, please reach out and let me know. I’d love to ride together or just join up for a coffee break/meal/cold beer/whatever!”
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.
