Wheels in Motion

Some of us are compelled to go to great lengths for the sake of helping others. That certainly describes Taylor and Donnie Doolittle, who decided to embark on an unforgettable biking journey across the U.S. that came to a fitting finish in the nation’s capital in early October. In the end, the two brothers rode over 3,300 miles from Oregon to Washington, D.C., spanning 62 days while raising over $6,000 for needy children in Fortaleza, Brazil.

For Gardner-Webb alumnus and former Student Body President Taylor Doolittle, whose favorite part of the trip was being able to share the experience with his older brother Donnie, it was the journey that made it all worthwhile.

“All the fun times we had were a big enough encouragement to want to keep on riding,” said Taylor, who discovered his love for the outdoors with Donnie during their high school years. “There were definitely times when it was tough—when it starts raining and it’s 40 degrees. But I don’t think there was any point when we were considering, ‘alright—let’s get home.’”

Using the trip as a platform to raise awareness and contributions, the Doolittles formed a non-profit organization, opened a bank account, created a website, designed a logo, sold tee shirts, and passed out business letters detailing the purpose of their charity. All these efforts would directly benefit Fortaleza’s Davis Lar Children’s Home, whose mission is to house and care for children victimized by prostitution, drug trafficking, abuse, and abandonment. By creating a network of childcare facilities, “The Lar” restores them to spiritual, physical and emotional health while reaching out to their families and communities.

The Doolittle’s journey, aptly dubbed “Long Haul for the Lar,” bore its fair share of ups and downs, and yet the brothers were encouraged by how quickly and sufficiently the lows gave way to more sustaining times.

“I don’t remember any days when we were suffering,” said Taylor. “We saw when things were going bad, or when we had a rough day of riding, at the end of the day we’d say, ‘whoa, this really worked out.’”

Oftentimes, their luck would turn around at the hands of complete strangers, whose hospitality was a pleasant surprise to the Doolittles. “Hospitality wasn’t region-specific,” said Taylor. “In every single state I can name an awesome family that took us in and took care of us when they didn’t have to.”

And while the brothers’ mighty haul has come to an end, the charity is still taking donations. There is still time to honor their effort through financial support for “the Lar.” If you’d like to make a contribution, read more about The Davis Lar Children’s Home, or relive the Doolittle’s journey through their blog, visit bikelar.com.

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