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Back From Biking Coast-to-Coast

Dental students continue 19-year UConn Health tradition of cycling cross-country for a cause
Chris DeFrancesco '94 (CLAS) | Tue, Aug 6, 2024
Jaydon Kinuthia next to a "Omah-ko-yis (Big Lodge) East Glacier" sign.
Jaydon Kinuthia at East Glacier Park in Montana (instagram.com/c2cbrushbrothers2024)

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 19th group of rising second-year students to complete what has become known as Coast to Coast for a Cause.

two bicyclists heading away from camera down tree-lined path
A cyclist they befriended along the way captures the 2024 Coast to Coast for a Cause students pedaling in Glendale, Wisconsin. (instagram.com/ c2cbrushbrothers2024)

“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.

Matthew Fernandez on his bicycle with mountains in the background
Matthew Fernandez in Kettle Falls, Washington (instagram.com/c2cbrushbrothers2024)

“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!”

four-man portrait, two with bicycle gear
UConn dental students Matthew Fernandez (second from left) and Jaydon Kinuthia (second from right) are back from nearly seven weeks of cross-country cycling to raise money for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. Rising second-year medical students Gabriel Rodrigues (left) and Christopher Angus (right) greeted them upon their return to campus July 23, 2024. (Photo by Rob Fuller)

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.