RESTON, Va. - A Philadelphia man spent more than two months on a bicycle, peddling across America all in the name of Arthritis research. David Shuey started his ride in Seattle and is now passing through the D.C. area.

Shuey is a man on a mission. He set out on a road trip of sorts, stretching nearly 4,000 miles across 14 states over 65 days -- and he's doing it alone.

"Part of this was to kind of go out and encounter America," he said.

The 59-year-old insurance broker used all of his annual vacation plus some to bike from coast to coast to honor his mother Marcy. She died last November after spending 15 years in a wheelchair because of spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis. They are conditions Shuey himself now suffers from.

"Unfortunately she passed away before I could accomplish the ride," he said. "She had two reactions: 'What are you crazy?' And, 'I'm really proud of you.'"

With just four small saddle bags on his bike full of supplies and clothes, Shuey has wound his way from Seattle through Idaho, Colorado and the continental divide.

"We did the Hooiser Pass which was 11,569 feet. That was a good climb," he said.

He traveled through the plains and the Midwest before peddling into the Mid-Atlantic Monday. Shuey's keeping a blog of his adventures while raising awareness and money to help those suffering with arthritis.

It affects one in five American adults and 300,000 children. "People think of arthritis as an old person disease, and it's really isn't just an old person disease," said Shuey. "When kids get rheumatoid arthritis it's devastating for them and their families."

"If i'm pain, I think about the kids that I met and I think about my mom --  just suck it up and gut it out," he said.

Shuey has just five more days left in journey that started in June. When he reaches Cape May, N.J., it'll be his 60th birthday, but the gift will be for the arthritis foundation. Some $56,000 has been raised during his ride.

"It's been an amazing experience," he said. 

» 2009 Coast-to-Coast Classic With David Shuey 

» Arthritis Foundation - David Shuey's Blogs

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