Bike trip has raised $35,000 so far for homeless

John Mohan passed through Moose Jaw on Monday as part of his Continuing Mid-Life Crisis Bikeathon for the Homeless.
Mohan is the CEO of the Siloam Mission in Winnipeg and is celebrating his 51st birthday by cycling over 1,300 km from the British Columbia/Alberta border to Winnipeg.
Riding his bike for 12 days, Mohan, who grew up in Moose Jaw, hopes to raise $125,000 for the Siloam Mission's program and reach about 1,200 donors connecting with the cause.
Mohan has currently raised $35,000 and reached about 500 donors so far along his trip.
This is the second year Mohan has made this trek.
Mohan said a lot of this trip is psychological.
"When you are riding through the Rockies, you expect it to be hard, you expect the mountains and the wind becomes your friend," said Mohan.
"Out here on the Prairies, you don't expect the hills and the wind can be really tricky. It can be pretty gruelling travelling across the Prairies."
Mohan said no matter what weather or struggles he faces during the trip, the motivation of spreading the word about homelessness keeps him going.
"Across our country we have homeless people who are dealing with weather all the time. They just exist with it and if they can do that year round, the little bit I have to deal with is not too difficult compared to that," said Mohan
Mohan is not travelling alone. Every day he bikes with his friend, Stuart Warkentin. Travelling in a camper next to them on the highway are the wives of the two men.
Mohan said the trip is a great way to see Western Canada.
"We have driven this highway for years and you just don't appreciate the geography and the noises, and the landscape the same way you do on a bicycle," said Mohan.
"As odd as it is, it seems longer in a vehicle than it does on a bike. There is just so much to absorb."
By spreading the message about homelessness in Canada, Mohan wants people to know homelessness is not just a big city problem.
"It's not just a big city crisis. Even in Moose Jaw there are going to be the contributing issues to homelessness," said Mohan. "There is going to be mental illness, shortage in affordable housing and financial crisis that send people out on to the streets."
Mohan said the people who are on streets are not lazy. They are people who once had childhood dreams and they aspired to something much different but have found themselves on the streets and are trying to survive.
"If I could advocate for one thing on a national level is that we would have a long-term strategy to address affordable housing and homelessness," said Mohan.

Colin Dewar can be reached at 691-1255.