Seattle, WA (PRWEB) June 01, 2012
Patricia Hansen, a Washington State woman, is fighting local hunger as she is pedaling her way across the US on an ambitious journey that has already taken her across Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and most of Kansas. Patricia, who will turn 70 on July 7th, the day she hopes to successfully complete her cross-country trek, has had a life long passion for cycling and for helping those who face hunger on a daily basis.
Hansen has combined these two passions into a way to raise awareness and money to feed the hungry in her own back yard. In the meantime, she is still biking and inspiring people along her journey with the states yet to be crossed including: Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Virginia.
In 2005, Hansen merged her love of cycling with her passion to help the hungry with the founding of a nonprofit, http://emeraldcitylights.com/ With monies raised from community biking and walking fundraising events, Hansen?s organization has fed 1,000 Seattle-area families over the past 8 years.
Having personally experienced wellness through healthy eating, Hansen and her volunteers create 5-day food baskets filled with organic, natural food, as well as dried soup mixes and Hansen?s homemade jams.
Many of the families who benefit from Emerald City Light?s food baskets have been stricken by illnesses, cutting short earning potential and forcing difficult choices between feeding families and buying medicine or seeking medical care.
When asked about hunger in America, Patricia said, ?We all have people in our own backyards that can?t put food on their tables. People seem to remember those in need during the holidays, but we need to help each week, each day. My goal in life is to feed more families each day of the year.?
For more information, to view Hansen?s daily progress through her travel blog, to donate or become a fan on https://www.facebook.com/emeraldcitylights
Emerald City Lights Bike Ride a 501(c)3], a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable and educational organization based in Seattle, is dedicated to providing to those in need. Our goal is to support activities, organizations and programs that work to provide nutrition and general humanitarian aid.
Note to media: Patricia Hansen is available throughout her bike ride for interviews. Photos of Hansen are available at her website or upon request.
