The Bigger Picture
This ride isn't just about miles or money. It's about proving something fundamental: individuality can thrive through community.
In 2026, America celebrates its 250th birthday. A lot has changed here over that time. Many Americans have made extraordinary contributions and we hope that they don't go unnoticed.
This ride is our way of showing that ordinary Americans can do extraordinary things. Not by waiting for someone else to act, but by choosing to act ourselves. Not through isolation, but by building community.
We believe self-determination and unity aren't opposites. They're partners.
What Does Extraordinary Really Mean?
It doesn't always mean summiting Everest or winning Olympic gold. Extraordinary happens when:
- A baby learns their first word
- A kid finally ties their own shoes
- A teenager works up the courage to ask someone to prom
- Being the first in your family to graduate college
- Completing your first marathon
Johnnie's Place creates space for these moments. And so does this ride.
Why Johnnie's Place?
A Model for What We Believe
Johnnie's Place wasn't built by bureaucrats or corporations. It was started by one father, Michael Dinda, after losing his son John (1994–2024).
Michael could have withdrawn into grief. Instead, he built community.
That's the American story we believe in.
Johnnie's Place serves families with autistic children, making sure no one faces this journey alone. It's proof that when regular people decide to act, real change happens. It's proof that community beats isolation every single time.
Isolation is the enemy of growth. Whether it's a child with autism finding connection, a parent finding support, or neighbors finding common ground, community is where the extraordinary happens.
The Riders
Patrick and I have been friends since we were kids. We swam competitively together for years, staring at that black line on the bottom of the pool, pushing through mile after mile, suffering together.
Back then, we looked down. Now we want to look forward.
We don't always agree on everything, but we're riding 3,664 miles together anyway.
We're not riding despite our differences but to prove that differences don't determine us. Community isn't about total agreement. It's about respect, mutual support, and choosing each other anyway.
Wil Cosgrove
For most of my life, I've wanted to make the most of it and forge my own path. But forging your own path doesn't mean ignoring community. When I chose swimming as my sport, the individuality of the events only mattered because of the people I shared them with.
I'm studying to become a history teacher for the same reason. History isn't just something to be learned. It's something to be lived, and then shared.
This summer, I'm doing both. As we celebrate our nation's 250th birthday, I'm riding 3,664 miles to explore what makes this country truly unique: our self-determination. The freedom to choose your own path, and the community that forms when you do.
That's what this ride is about.
Washington, D.C.
Patrick Casey
Ever since my high school English teacher shared stories in class about biking across the United States, it became something I dreamt of doing. Now, with college coming to an end this spring and work beginning in the middle of the summer, there is no better time to go after it.
I am so excited not only to chase a dream of mine, but also to learn more about myself, experience our country in a unique way, connect with people I would never otherwise meet, and see how despite our differences we are all a lot more similar than you would think.
The Route
The route runs from the Pacific to the Atlantic — Ocean Shores, WA to Avalon, NJ — across 13 states. We start on May 20 and finish on July 4, 2026: America's 250th birthday.
The dates aren't a coincidence. Coast-to-coast is the most direct way to see the country end to end, and finishing on the 4th, on the 250th, gives the ride a deadline that means something.
From one ocean to another. From one coast to the other.
Sea to shining sea.
How You Can Help
Buy a Mile
Choose a per-mile rate — a penny, a nickel, a dollar, or any amount you pick. 100% goes to Johnnie's Place.
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