Perich to pedal from the Arctic to Argentina in IBD awareness ride
by Brian 브라이안 Perich on Monday, September 6, 2010 at 12:04am
LaSalle adventurer set to trek for IBD
MARATHON RIDER: Brian Perich takes a self-portrait while on a recent training ride in South Korea. Perich, a LaSalle native, currently lives in Seoul, South Korea, but will be returning toCanada for a massive Arctic Circle to South America ride for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada in 2013.
By Bob Stewart
Following a 1998 motorcycle accident in Vancouver, in which he crashed broadside into a car that slid into his lane, causing extensive damage to his sciatic nerve, Perich, 36, a LaSalle native and graduate of St. Anne’s Secondary in Tecumseh, was described by paramedics at the scene as a “wandering nomad.” But his biggest adventure is yet to come.
In 2013, Perich will cycle northeast from Anchorage, Alaska, towards Inuvik, NWT, before turning southwest and traversing Canada from the Arctic Circle through the Yukon and British Columbia before cutting down through Texas and into Mexico, through Cental and South America before ending in Argentina.The globe-pedalling tour is all part of raising money and awareness for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation via the IDEAS Foundation of Canada.
See Cycle, page 12.
Perich is calling his Arctic leg of the race, simply, One—Arctic to Argentina A2A.
IBD is a group of disorders that cause the sections of the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed and ulcerated through an abnormal response of the body’s immune system. There are two main forms of IBD: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). “It’s all about raising social awareness for those suffering with IBD and living to their fullest with a chronic illness for which there is no cure,” said Perich from his current home in his wife’s native South Korea, where he teaches English when not cycling throughout the country with the informal cycling group he founded, Cycling International.
“They need our support, so I am riding for them, and asking for community or charity donations to fund research for a cure, supporting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundations of Canada and America, to continue their research to help improve the quality of life for those suffering from IBD.”
Currently, there are approximately 200,000 Canadians and 1.4 million Americans suffering from IBD-related illnesses. Although there is currently no cure for IBD, The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada is a not-for-profit organization that believes a cure can be found.
Cycling chroniclesPerich’s cycling adventures across the Korean peninsula have become something of an Internet sensation through his blog and on the social networking site Facebook, where the almost daily updates and photo essays of his site-seeing, training and good will-spreading. Perich’s One adventure has received media coverage for his cycling endeavors on he Korean Broadcasting System’s KBS radio, and in the Korean Times national newspaper.
“Anyone joining this ride can support another charity of their choosing and we can ride supporting each other,” Perich explained. “Also, anyone that is interested is welcome to join segments of this bicycle expedition for fun, adventure and a load of cycling on the road. There’s no barriers or attitudes. It’s about moving in a new direction."
You can follow Perich’s cycling adventures through his blog at http://korean-world.blogspot.com/INTERNATIONAL PEDALLER: Brian Perich in South Korea, following a cycling trip from Gangneung, Gangwondo province to Busan, Gyeongsannamdo Province on the Korean peninsula’s east coast earlier in 2009.[Since this article was written: I have teamed with Education Through Expeditions, ETE founder, Polar Explorer - Antony Jinman. Since the new launch of this non-profit, global green educational programme, there will be regular updates from the expedition directly linked to school educational programs in the UK and other participating countries. It's truly rewarding working with Antony's non-profit organization raising environmental, cultural and health awareness while pursuing the dreams on a 32,000km marathon.]*
- Korea Herald article, 2011,
- Busan Haps Entertainment Magazine,
- Busan Haps Magazine, Interview with Eddie Glayzer,
- KBS World Radio, Live radio interview,
- Education Through Expeditions, Expedition Profile
- Korean-World or Arctic 2 Argentina blogs
- The Korea Times National English Newspaper,
- The Korea Times (@ Arctic2Argentina)
- Interview with Helen Lloyd, Explorer and Adventure Cyclist
- Interview with Tim Travis, 10 year World Touring Cyclist and founder of Downtheroad.org (find more at http://downtheroad.org/ )
- The Korea Times National English Newspaper,
- Vimeo.com Video channel for Brian's Adventures
- Cycling in Korea, Arctic to Argentina 2012, TBS 101.3 eFM Seoul, Korea interview+
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