Uli Schackmann is no stranger to long distance cycling, but cycling from Alaska to Florida to raise money and awareness about AIDS is an entirely different challenge.
With her dog in tow, the German-born American citizen left Anchorage in early May and recently stopped in Jasper as part of her 9,600-kilometre journey to Key West, Florida.
鈥淚鈥檓 riding because I want to bring awareness and educate others about HIV and AIDS,鈥� said Schackmann, who is raising money for amfAR, an international organization dedicated to AIDS research.
鈥淚 aligned with them because they have the same ambition, which is a cure for AIDS by 2020.鈥�
For the past 18 years the 58-year-old has been participating in long distance bike rides throughout the United States to raise awareness about AIDS. She said she hopes to complete her current journey in the next six or seven months.
Her unplanned stop in Jasper in mid-May was only suppose to last for a few days before she headed to Banff, but almost two weeks later she said the kindness and generosity shown by locals has made it difficult to leave.
When she first showed up she couldn鈥檛 find a place to stay so she decided to knock on a few random doors in town to see if someone had room for her and her six-year-old dog, named Jackson.
It only took a few knocks before she came upon Sandy and Jean Robinson, who warmly welcomed her in with open arms.
鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 have been any kinder,鈥� said Schackmann. 鈥淚 paid for three nights, but we had snow so they said I couldn鈥檛 leave because it was too cold and there would be too much snow if I headed down to Banff so I stayed.鈥�
A few days later she tried to depart, but only part-way down Highway 93 her bike broke down so she had to return to Jasper.
While waiting for her bike to be fixed, she stayed with the same couple for another four days free of charge.
鈥淚 told Jean I don鈥檛 know what it is about this place, but it鈥檚 pulling me always back in.鈥�
And the friendly hospitality didn鈥檛 stop there.
To help her get on her way, Freewheel Cycle fixed her bike, but only charged her for the parts, while the Jasper Veterinary Clinic offered to groom her dog free of charge.
She said the journey of course hasn鈥檛 been without its challenges.
While cycling through the Yukon she came face to face with a grizzly bear and her two young cubs.
鈥淭hat was scary,鈥� recalled Schackmann. 鈥淭hey were just heading up a hill when I came and I tell you my heart went up in my throat.鈥�
Spooked by the encounter, she rode a bit further before flagging down a passing motorist.
鈥淭here was nothing out there. I didn鈥檛 see a sign for the next campsite, there were no human beings and hardly any cars. It was really, really lonely out there.鈥�
Adding to the challenge, a lot of the campsites along the way were still closed and covered in snow.
鈥淚t was just too intense. I couldn鈥檛 relax or sleep.鈥�
To get herself out of the situation she flagged down a passing car, which drove her the remaining 800 miles to Whitehorse.
Despite being in the middle of nowhere, she said she learned a lot from the experience.
鈥淚t made me very present to people who are living with HIV or AIDS and coming out and how lonely that would have been for them.鈥�
Reflecting on her journey so far, she couldn鈥檛 say enough about Jasper鈥檚 generosity.
鈥淚 had the most amazing stay here. People couldn鈥檛 have been any nicer, more welcoming and kinder. It was just an amazing experience.鈥�
To donate to amfAR visit her GoFundMe page: Uli鈥檚 Journey. People can also support her personal costs by donating to her Crowdrise page under the same name.
鈥淗IV AIDS is here and we have to address it and hopefully we find a cure and not just make a difference in the United States and Canada, but across the world.鈥�
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
