Miss Ohio 2011 has swapped her tiara for a bicycle helmet as she makes her way around her home state on a charity bicycle tour.
Ellen Bryan is in the midst of a 850-mile, 27-day bike tour she undertook to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals of Ohio.
Apparently she never spent much time on a bicycle and is struggling a bit in the hilly parts of the state. She's doing the miles whether she rides or walks, though.
Ellen said that as an intern at a TV station, she worked on stories about people using their bikes to spread the word about their causes. She also had volunteered at the Dayton Children's Hospital.
That gave her the idea to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network, which is affiliated with eight hospitals in Ohio. She'll visit all of them on her trek which is explained at her website, Miss Ohio Bike Tour.
Not surprising, the bike tour is getting a lot of coverage from local media as she visits 47 towns on her route.
Ellen said she wants to raise $100,000 on her trip, and I hope she meets her goal. This is a good cause and she's a good role model for girls who might think that riding a bicycle isn't cool.
My only regret is that a long, gas-guzzling RV is following Ellen on her bike tour for support. I'm sure there are plenty of experienced touring bicyclists in Ohio who'd be willing to share their knowledge of gear and camping with her.
You can donate at her website Miss Ohio Bike Tour. There's also a blog, photo gallery, schedule and map at the website.
The Children's Miracle Network also presents Tour de Kids charity bike rides to raise money for the 170 affiliated children's hospitals nationwide. The last ride of the year is scheduled in Seattle on Saturday.
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