Mufaddal Fidahussein ’11 is used to challenges. As a rising fourth-year nursing student, he’s taken tough courses and studied long hours, pursuing a second degree more than 10 years after he earned his bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies. But the task he’s set for himself this summer may be his most mentally and physically demanding yet: a cross-country bike ride of more than 4,000 miles, which he’s calling ‘Open Hearts, Open Roads’.
Fidahussein flew out to Washington state on May 8, and plans to start his journey from La Push soon after. His route will take him along part of the Great American Rail Trail, down through the central U.S., then back up again, en route to Liberty State Park in New Jersey, his final destination. Along the way he’ll be raising money for MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Tanzanian native has given himself 80 days to make the journey, but cheerfully admits, “I’m open to the idea that it might not work out.”
Fidahussein knows from experience never to get too attached to a plan. This will be his third attempt at an extended ride. His first, from San Francisco to Los Angeles last summer, was cut short when his ankle became inflamed halfway through the ride. The second, 1,000 miles from Spartanburg to Key West last December, was successful.
“I got this confidence after doing the winter break trip,” he says. “That just really opened my mind up to everything that’s possible. It’s so not complicated. Once you’re in it, it just makes sense.”
While he has been cycling all his life, Fidahussein is not a competitive cyclist, nor does he have a strict daily workout regimen. He’s gone on backpacking trips before, but until his West Coast trip last summer, he had never tried bikepacking. While there’s been a learning curve, Fidahussein has added to his knowledge with each trip.
“You don’t really train for this,” he says. “You build your endurance over time.”
The joy of cycling comes from slowing down and absorbing what’s around you, Fidahussein says. “You’re experiencing the world in a very intimate way.” Unlike being in a car, you get a wide view of the landscape as you cycle, and you can stop at any time to take in your surroundings, he notes. “You can feel the air and every couple of miles the smell changes,” he says. “And you meet all these people.”
Those connections on the road are among Fidahussein’s favorite parts of his previous journeys. In California, he was struck by the warmth and friendliness of the people he met, and their genuine interest in him. He had similar interactions on the way to Key West, most notably with a cycling couple he met in Florida who invited him to share in their meals and with whom he rode for awhile.
The whole cycling community, in fact, is very generous, Fidahussein says. An app he uses called Warmshowers helps cyclists to connect with others who are willing to provide their home as a place to rest or wash up on a journey. One of Fidahussein’s hosts even gave him access to her home while she was out of town.
Nursing instructor Lindsay Grainger, who taught Fidahussein last fall, has been a supporter since his trip to Key West. A mom of three daughters, Grainger instinctively worried about her student’s safety on the road but was a steadfast cheerleader throughout his trip. Even her daughters joined in.
When Fidahussein told her he was going to attempt a longer trip, Grainger could tell he was hooked. “I was happy for him to have this goal in mind and something motivating to think about,” she says. “Nursing school can be grueling, so it’s a nice escapist idea.”
The two brainstormed different ways he could make an impact with his ride, since Fidahussein wanted to help people in some way. When another faculty member suggested raising funds for MANNA FoodBank in North Carolina, everything came together.
Even before Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina last fall, food insecurity had been a major issue for residents, Fidahussein says. He set a goal to raise $10,000 for MANNA, which has a donation page set up on its website. All funds raised go directly to the organization – Fidahussein is self-funding his ride.
Grainger has been helping him get the word out and will once again be tracking his progress. While she admits she’ll still worry about him, she knows he’ll thrive on the newness of each day. “I think his sense of adventure is greater than a sense of fear,” she says. “He is so eager to discover the world and to try new things.”
Whether or not he succeeds in completing his trip, Fidahussein intends to enjoy every moment of the journey. “If you’re going to strive for something, just give everything and strive for something big,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t make it.”
Ways to keep up with Mufa:
- Follow him on Instagram: @mufa.gram
- Donate to his Open Hearts, Open Roads efforts: MANNA FoodBank link
- Follow USC Upstate on Instagram: @usc_upstate