UConn dental students Matthew Fernandez and Jaydon Kinuthia are rejoining their classmates with quite a story of what they did this summer.

They spent nearly seven weeks pedaling home from the Pacific coast in Bellingham, Washington, and became the 19^th group of rising second-year students to complete what has become known as Coast to Coast for a Cause.

“We met some amazing people along the way,” Kinuthia says. “These people included individuals who hosted us for the night, those doing their own bike tours, and strangers in general. Some parts of the trip were grueling, but it was all worth it for the memories, the sights, and overall adventure.”

The 2024 edition ended July 23 at Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven.

“For me, riding my bike coast to coast had always been a bucket list item,” Fernandez says. “I am an avid cyclist, but I had never done any riding comparable to a coast-to-coast trip. After a few days of riding, it really began to set in what we were doing. We had no support other than each other and we had no other option but to keep riding each day through injury, sickness, and all different kinds of riding conditions. For me, the ride was one of the most mentally challenging adventures I have ever been on, but the people we met along the way that showed us such kindness and hospitality made it all worth it! This was truly an adventure of a lifetime!”

Every summer since 2006, a different group of students set out for the cross-country bike tour, and in doing so, raised money for and awareness of a cause. Fernandez and Kinuthia chose the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

“The coast-to-coast bike trip represented a profound opportunity to challenge myself both mentally and physically while embracing a skill — biking — that I had never fully explored before,” Kinuthia says. “Beyond the personal test, it was a chance to raise funds for an incredible cause. The journey transcended the mere act of pedaling miles; it was about connecting with diverse communities, sharing inspiring stories, and experiencing breathtaking landscapes in a uniquely intimate way.”

Founded by celebrity Paul Newman and located in Ashford, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides free summer camp experiences for children who are dealing with medical problems.