SF2LA bike tour raises over $18,000 for North Korean orphans

We want to thank everyone who helped to make this fundraiser a huge success. The outpouring of support from so many of you helped to raise over $18,000* to send winter boots to North Korean orphans!

Meet the team
God provided an awesome team who committed to bravely ride down from San Francisco to Los Angeles in just six days. Seven members included Sungwhan Kim, Sunwook Kil, Alex Her, Hyun Hur, Keumsuk Kim, and Guhn Hur. Chang Hong joined the team from Maryland to document the six day adventure.

We interviewed three of the riders to share about their journey. Here are some highlights from the interviews.

Sunwook Kil
Sunwook is an administrative pastor and choir director of Gardena Presbyterian Church

What was the best part of the trip?
Kil: We had a clear purpose for the trip, to raise funds for children in North Korea. As a South Korean, I prayed for NK, but didn't know how to help them practically. I meditated on Romans 12:1 as I began the trip praying that I wanted to offer myself as a "living sacrifice" for the Lord. There were parts of the trip when I felt like I was going to die because it was so excruciatingly painful, but I experienced a deeper call to sacrifice myself for the sake of my brothers and sisters.

Another highlight was to see Pastor Hyun and Guhn taking this trip together. I saw a teenage pastor's kid spending full six days with his pastor dad who is very busy. I saw them watching out for each other and their relationship deepen. As a dad of two boys, this was special to see and hope to do something like this with my boys in the future.

What was the most challenging part of the trip?
Kil: It's hard to say. Everything was so great, even the physically difficult part of the trip. I think the hardest part of the trip was when we had to readjust our time schedule throughout the trip. We have to adjust according to the speed of the different riders and that affected our time schedule and our destination station for each day. We'll be better organized next year!

Alex Her
Alex is a Client Services and Recruiting Coordinator for Azusa Pacific University

What was the best thing about the bike trip?
Her: The trip tested my limits and we also finished as a team. I sensed a camaraderie forming through the trip which was very special.

When during the trip did you feel that your limits were truly tested?
Her: I think it was the fifth day as we were passing Lompac. We had to bike a long and extensive uphill for about an hour. It wasn’t very steep, but the incline was steady and relentless. That route made me reflect on the toils of life, but the key to overcoming that challenge was to enjoy the beautiful scenery and focus on the positive. I also stayed focused on the destination for the day and recognized that I am not the only one going through this challenge. It will be hard for everyone on the team, but we will overcome it together.

Guhn Hur
Fifteen year-old Guhn Nathanael Hur is a junior at Blair High School in Pasadena, CA

What was the worst part of the trip?
Hur: Well, I got really bad cramps the first day of the ride. My thighs and calves really cramped up so I had to stop in the middle of it. My dad took my place for about 20 miles, but I really wanted to finish the day so I switched with him again and completed it. I was bummed that I didn't ride the full first day.

Well, you still rode about 68 miles the first day. What was the best part of the trip?
Hur: Kalbi.The fourth day was really exhausting, but my family and other riders' families drove up to Santa Maria with Korean barbeque meat and grilled for us at the park. We ate really well and had a relaxing evening. Many nights we didn't have many relaxing evenings because we had to plan out the next day and sleep, but that night, it was great having kalbi and seeing the family.

A lot of people were inspired by you. Are you going to do this again next year?
Hur: Wait, they're going to have it again next year?

*total donation includes in-kind donations