Dave Wallace will cover 335 miles in just three days as he raises awareness and funds
Dave Wallace didn’t have much experience as a cyclist when the year began. He’ll have plenty soon enough.
Dave, who is the Director of Treasury & Real Estate Management and a 20-plus year teammate at DICK’S, is preparing to push himself like never before to raise both money and awareness for adoption. Dave and his wife Erin adopted their son, Zak. The joy and fulfillment that Zak brought to their family changed their lives forever. Erin, who is a physician’s assistant, helped deliver Zak, without knowing he would become their adopted son 18 months later, when Erin was pregnant with their daughter, Paige.
Dave's family, from left, includes wife Erin, daughter Paige, son Zak, and Dave.
However, the costs related to the adoption process can add up and become a barrier for some families.
So, Dave has set a goal of raising $100,000 by riding 335 miles in just three days from June 25-27. His journey will start at Point State Park in Pittsburgh and end in Washington, D.C. with, as he so eloquently puts it, “one sore butt.” He’ll travel through the G.A.P and C&O trails to reach his destination.
Dave is partnering with Gregory’s Gift, a non-profit organization, that distributes adoption grants in $5,000 increments. The goal is to provide 20 such grants to adopting families.
At 75 days out from his ride, Dave was nearly halfway to his goal with $47,100 raised.
“The amount of support I got when this first started has been unbelievable,” said Dave. “There have been a lot of commitments from teammates at DICK’S. It’s been very humbling.”
Dave noted that the company has been there for him all along. DICK'S offers adoption expense reimbursement up to the maximum amount that can be excluded from income under the tax code, which is currently $14,400. The company also offers 120 hours of paid adoption leave, in addition to the paid parental leave program.
“We were very blessed in that we never had to do any fundraising,” said Dave. “It all came to us very easily, but we know that with an average cost of $40,000 to adopt, a lot of people aren’t as fortunate.”
Making such a big commitment to the endeavor must mean Dave is an expert cyclist, right? Not even close, as he will readily admit. Prior to this year, his longest ride ever was 28 miles, a far cry from the 100-plus he will need to put in for three straight days. He’ll be on his bike for 9-10 hours each day, during which he estimates he’ll burn about 7,000 calories. He will need to eat or drink every 10-15 minutes to stay energized and hydrated.
“I’ve had to start from scratch to learn how to train and eat for this,” said Dave.
DICK’S provided an exercise bike and Dave, who began his road training by borrowing Erin’s bike helmet, got himself some new gear. As the ride gets closer, Dave continues to improve and build his endurance. He recently completed a 62-mile ride and felt good enough to get back on his bike the next day.
To see where Dave goes from here, follow along on his event’s Facebook page and website for more updates.
Dave's ride can be supported in numerous ways.
- Click here to make a donation online in any amount.
- Any donation of $1 or more per mile ($335 and up) will get you a custom t-shirt with the Journey for Adoption logo.