With the semester winding down and a long-awaited summer coming into focus, students look to finalize internship plans, locate summer jobs and fight off daydreams of moments without responsibilities.
For one Geneseo student, however, the summer will take on a different air entirely. Instead of reconnecting with home or relaxing on the beach, junior Serge Berig has chosen to traverse the country on skateboard as an approved fundraiser for the American Breast Cancer Foundation with friends Robert Springs and Christian Cupp.
"I just wanted to do something unique," Berig said.
Their journey begins in Williamsport, Va. and ends in Newport, Ore., covering approximately 3,000 miles.
"The plan is to skate about 45 miles per day, or as much distance as we can in as little time possible. The less time we spend out there, the less money we wind up spending on food and other expenses," Berig said.
Because it is strictly a fundraiser for cancer research, the trio will fund their trips individually, sending every penny of donations straight to the foundation. Donations thus far have come exclusively from small businesses.
"I think because of the economy, many large businesses have decided to temporarily ignore small events like this," Berig said. "We're happy though. Small skateboarding companies like Randal, ABEC 11 and Tactis have been generous with their support."
"We're also setting a world record because no one has ever done this before," he said.
Equipped with GPS navigation systems, Berig, Springs and Cupp plan to predominantly skateboard on local roads: "There will be some highways, but we're keeping it to a minimum," Berig said. "We're excited about the route. It should be a great expedition."
The trip is quickly approaching, as they plan to leave on May 15. With 75 straight days on the road ahead of him, Berig is currently looking to train as much as possible on his skateboard with a 30 pound hiking backpack. After skating for just two and a half years, Berig said he is excited to meet awaiting challenges.
"At this point, our biggest foreseeable setback will be rain," Berig said. "We have factored in expenses for breakdowns and other problems, but the weather will play a large role in the speed of our trip."
When possible, Berig plans to update the group's blog from the road, which can be located at http://skateforthetwins.blogspot.com/.