Best Friends Biking 2,400 Miles From Grand Rapids To LA For Charity

The Palisades Wildfire that ravaged Los Angeles at the beginning of 2025 left over 10,000 structures destroyed and 37,469 acres burned. According to NBC, over 200,000 people had to evacuate from their homes, with hundreds losing their homes, and 29 people were left dead by the end of the blaze.

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In the end, damages from the wildfire surpassed $20 billion, making this fire the largest in Los Angeles' history. The smoke from the wildfires was visible here in Michigan. Now, 6 months after the fires were contained, two best friends from Caledonia have decided on a bombastic idea to try raising some money: bicycling 2,400 miles from Grand Rapids to Los Angeles. 

Two Friends, One Massive Goal

Now that the depressing news has been established, let's turn to the more lighthearted part of this story. Life-long best friends Mikey Vansuilichem and Tommy Gehl II wrapped up their schooling in May, with Mikey completing his second Bachelor's in Medical Laboratory Science, and Tommy completing his Master's Degree in Management.

READ MORE: Grand Rapids Gold ‘Elf Game’ Receives National Accolade

Before entering their professions, the two wanted to embark on an adventure with a cause. That cause revealed itself as Pedal to the Rescue, a ~2,400 pedal bike ride across the US to raise $50,000 and awareness for the Los Angeles wildfires. Currently, the GoFundMe has raised just under $5,000.

All proceeds from their GoFundMe will be donated to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation to help fund crucial new upgrades for the Fire Department and save as many lives as possible.

The Ride So Far

The duo's trip began on June 10th, and now, over a month into their cross-country trek, Tommy and Mikey have made it to Arizona, most recently going through Colorado and New Mexico. The two are making excellent progress, considering their goal is to complete the journey in 3 months, and they are nearly in California.

You can stay updated on their ride by following the Pedal to the Rescue Instagram and reading more about their goals on their website.