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Bike for Boyan’s Ocean Cleanup

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MY PROGRESS

total donors image

22

Donors

Fundraising target image

12%

Of fundraising target reached

I am raising funds to clean the oceans

Welcome to my cycling fundraiser page!  

I set up this fundraiser because I find it critical to support The Ocean Cleanup’s mission to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040. That’s 16 years away, but if we can help them scale up operations, they may be able to remove the plastics sooner, saving whales, turtles, birds and fish from eating harmful waste that shouldn’t have to end up in our Oceans in the first place.

I set a goal to solo cycle up the East Coast, starting on Earth Day, April 22nd, 2024. I am currently about 1025 miles into my ride, and have been documenting businesses, beaches, and cycling infrastructure along the way that need improvemen. I plan to submit my findings to advocacy groups and government agencies, with the hope of improving the ability for others to benefit from cycling and electric biking as a commute option. 

Would you kindly consider making any donation you can to support my fundraiser? Please tell your family and friends about my campaign. I would really appreciate it if you could help me get the word out. The impact increases with the number of people who are aware. 

Thank you in advance for your generosity; it means a lot! 

Help me reach my goal

Raised

$575

My Goal

$5,000

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MY ACHIEVEMENTS

Created a team

Personalized my page

Made a self donation

Shared my profile

Received my first donation

Reached 25% of my fundraising goal

Reached 50% of my fundraising goal

Reached 75% of my fundraising goal

Increased fundraising goal over 200

Reached my fundraising goal

Thanked my donors

My Updates

Mother’s Day 2024 New Bern, North Carolina

Tuesday 14th May
My biggest push yet- over 90 miles cycled on Mother’s Day, 2024 to reach the 1,000 mile milestone. For my Mom, and my sons, I want a better and healthier future for the environment, whales, turtles, birds. The Ocean Cleanup is doing it! They need our support. Please donate today. Thank you. -Colleen

Day 21: 1000 miles cycled milestone! Hobe Sound, Florida to New Bern, North Carolina

Tuesday 14th May
Hello! I cycled 90 miles on Mother’s Day to reach the 1,000 mile milestone for the Ocean Cleanup fundraiser. I am currently in New Bern, North Carolina, headed North towards NYC.
Will you please donate today to support my progress? Thank you. -Colleen

Day 15: 737 miles biked Charleston to Georgetown, South Carolina

Friday 10th May
(Please see my Instagram at @cproppe for more detailed updates.) May 6th-7th: This day took me from Historic Downtown Charleston over the Ravenel Bridge at up route 17 North at night, after a rain and lightning storm. I pulled into Georgetown, South Carolina just before 3am, exhausted, but happy. I had biked alone, through the darkness, with tall pines on either side of me, and vivid stars above me after taking shelter from the rain at the Elementary School south of McClellanvile. It was a really special journey, with help from Brittany, who lifted my bike onto the bike path from the Ravenel Bridge highway, and Matt at REI Mount Pleasant, who repaired my cassette on my bike when I stopped in to buy a pair of padded bike shorts. Believe it or not, I had cycled two weeks without any bike shorts and was definitely starting to feel the need for them. I have an excellent comfort racing seat on my bike made by Sella Italia. This relieves pressure and allows for better long rides. Thanks again to all for your donations to help clean our world’s oceans and rivers. Thank you! -Colleen

Day 14: 675 miles total biked since earth day!

Monday 6th May
Hobe Sound, Florida to Charleston, South Carolina. Moving along… It’s hard and scary, and then pleasant when a bike path or quiet road appears. All cycling and media posts on this ride are for our oceans and climate action! Please donate today, and support TheOceanCleanup.com ! Thank you.

Day 12: 565 miles total cycled

Saturday 4th May
Hobe Sound, FL to Ridgeland, SC

Day 6: TOTAL MILEAGE SO FAR— 275 MILES HOBE SOUND TO JACKSONVILLE BEACH/ATLANTIC BEACH FLORIDA

Sunday 28th Apr
Hello Friends and Donors,

I wanted to stop and take the time to give you a brief update on my journey so far. Day 6 brought me from the spectacular St. Augustine Lighthouse, where I watched a downpour from the porch of the Museum Gift Shop, to meeting surfers along the East Coast North, women in business at “Fountain of Juice”, and even an alligator wrangler with a live alligator on route to a sanctuary. I have definitely seen some trash along the sides of the road on A1A but I have not had time or space on my bike to pick it up. There are many places that definitely could use true bike paths or bike lanes. The sidewalks should be replaced with smooth roads without cracks in them for road bikes, and not just off road bikes. There are several places in Florida that have done this already and you can definitely tell the difference when you’re on a road bike because it absorbs all the bumps, unlike a mountain bike or electric bike. This journey is a physical personal challenge to see how far I can go without fossil fuels, using just my Trek road bike and a solar charger for my phone. I am stopping at hotels and putting them on credit that I will have to pay back. If you would like to sponsor that portion of my ride, you can send me reimbursement for hotel bills to my Venmo account at @Colleen-Proppe (There should be a picture of me there with my guitar) If you want to donate to my ocean cleanup fund, to scale up THEOCEANCLEANUP.com so they get the trash out of our oceans faster, please donate on this page.

Announcing my 1,300 mile + ride up the East Coast Greenway, from Florida to NYC/CT in Support of the Ocean Cleanup

Thursday 18th Apr

I am writing to ask for support and announce that I am cycling up the East Coast Greenway later this week, from Florida to NYC/CT, raising funds for The Ocean Cleanup. My last few months in Florida have taught me of the critical need for funding to protect our oceans and the solution- ending fossil fuel use, is still being denied by even my own parents, who still use two fossil fuel cars daily, and have offered to give me a used fossil fuel car I don’t want.


I am embarking on a solo cycling trip on the Greenway this Earth Day, in order to prove my commitment to ending fossil fuels and protecting the earth and it’s oceans.


In the first 3 months of 2024, I have cycled thousands of miles, for health, trips to the grocery store and pharmacy, and I’ve even written several songs while riding my bike!


Several things I learned in Florida while visiting my parents made it very clear to me that we are not doing enough to save our oceans or cool the planet, the number one issue is still the inability of individuals and businesses to give up fossil fuels and convert to net zero fast enough.


I also paddled with endangered manatees, learned about Sea and Shoreline Inc, the number one seagrass restoration business in the world, found a 40 year old conch on the beach—an animal 500 billion years old! that relies on seagrasses as a food source, just like manatees, and I was in tears the next day, realizing in my short lifetime, we have destroyed the habitat for all on earth.


This cycling trip is a “reaction to that inaction”— I am making a choice to ride the East Coast Greenway, with a backpacker guitar, and play every day, hopefully write songs and stop at other businesses who are also cycling or doing work to cool the earth and oceans.


I do not yet have a support team behind me for this, and am hoping you can help connect me with others and businesses who can donate and also may be interested in hosting me for an overnight OR simply meeting to be video-interviewed on my route. 


I am on disability and have limited income since a hip replacement in 2020 caused uneven gait and additional spine/hip and mobility problems. I can bike long distances,  but can not walk long distances or run at all. I am also not able to lift heavy items repeatedly, etc… and am in an ongoing lawsuit for spousal support in California, so my job options and ability to seek new friends are limited. I feel very much a solo Mom, still fighting for a better environment for me and my sons (who I haven’t been able to afford to see in a year now). What can I do but do something that will make me feel better and help others cleanup the planet. I know this journey will help in some way! Your support is invaluable and I hope you will follow along on my journey. Thank you!


Colleen’s Fundraising Page

https://fund.theoceancleanup.com/fundraisers/colleenproppe/community-usd


My Earth Day Story on Medium

https://cproppe.medium.com/in-2024-im-biking-everywhere-for-d5f0b2254338


Join my team

https://fund.theoceancleanup.com/join/BikeforBoyansOceanCleanup


Thank you for your support!


Colleen 🚴‍♀️🌊🌊🌎


CPROPPE.COM

Design, Writing, Art & Music 


1(415) 205-3490

Saturday April 13th

Sunday 14th Apr
Today I did a short ride to the local organic grocery store about 13 miles. 
It would be wonderful if you could share this with friends and get them to donate $13 today in honor of Saturday the 13th and the 13 miles I saved from using fossil fuels today. I have so far $100. and reached out to some businesses to donate directly to the Ocean Cleanup. I appreciate your continued support and would love that if you would share this with friends who love the ocean. Thank you! -Colleen

In 2024, I’m Biking Everywhere!

Friday 29th Mar
In the first 3 months of 2024, I have cycled thousands of miles, for health, trips to the grocery store and pharmacy, and I have even written several songs while riding my bike! This week, I repaired a bike for my family so they can ride too. I am seeking funds for the Ocean Cleanup. One of the reasons I am seeking funds to help them is that if they can scale up what they are already doing, they have the potential to remove all the plastic from the ocean much faster than their current projections. I have only used a car a handful of times this year and therefore, have used very little in fossil fuels. Your donation to my fundraiser will go directly to the ocean cleanup on behalf of my efforts to bike every day until I reach my goal. I will post photos and updates of my cycling here. Tha k you for your donations to help Boyan Slat and his teams clean the oceans! 

Thank you to my Sponsors

$5

Couple At The Park In North Carolina

Cash donation received from couple at North Carolina park off route 17.

$25

Kelly Brown

$5

Anonymous

I am receiving several small cash donations of 1-5-10 dollars each (3 so far). Is there a way to submit those besides taking the cash and then making an anonymous donation from my own account?

$50

Cory Brietzke

Was so great to meet you, thank you for what you're doing!

$5

Carol @ Indigo Farm Market, Calabash Nc

$25

Anonymous

$100

Ronald Zaleski

$10

Susan From Edisto River Motel

Best of luck to you, Colleen. Thank you for your stay!

$10

James Frazier

Excelsior!

$25

Kim Bevill

Thank you for your stay

$10

Anonymous

$150

Rachel

So nice to meet you while I was running in Kingsland/Woodbine! Good luck and keep up the good work!!

$5

Caroline Mehl

Thank you Colleen!!!

$50

Janet Fitz

$10

Anonymous

$15

C.proppé Design

$5

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$10

Anonymous

$30

Jana Yeakel

Great job everyone! And Happy birthday week!! 👍🏼

$10

Anonymous

Keep going! You are doing an incredible job. The Ocean Cleanup saves lives and creates hope for a cleaner, healthier planet.

$10

Anonymous

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