Published: August 16, 2007 11:48 am      

Cross-country mission

Washington College students, from left, Spencer Case, Brian Gamble, Jamie Beaver and Katherine Wilson ride in front of the Western Maryland Railway Station at Canal Place Wednesday during a stop in Cumberland. The four are completing a cross-country trek to encourage people to stop smoking.

CUMBERLAND — Four friends from Washington College in Queen Anne’s County equipped with bikes and a mission had the best summer of their lives.

“We rode our bikes over 3,000 miles across the country to encourage people to stop smoking,” said Katherine Wilson, a 23-year-old 2006 Washington College graduate from Devon, Pa.

Wilson, along with students Spencer Case, 23, Hudson, Ohio; Jamie Beaver, 20, Littleton, Colo.; and Brian Gamble, 19, Gibson Island, set off on their cross-country journey June 28 in Anacortes, Wash.

“We want people to know that if we can ride across the country, they can quit smoking,” said Case, who smoked for four years and quit.

The group, which stopped in Cumberland on Wednesday, plans to finish its Ride for the Future on Saturday in Chestertown at Washington College.

“After that, we’re going on a victory ride to Rehobeth Beach — we want to put our feet in the ocean” said Wilson.

“It has been a wonderful experience; we’ve had a lot of support,” said Beaver. “You see how kind people are.”

Many people shared their stories about trying to quit or relatives who have struggled with smoking-related illnesses, said Beaver.

Beaver said the most beautiful place along the journey was Sand Pointe, Idaho.

For Wilson, the highlight was spending time in Western Montana.

“We had a chase car that carried our tents and grills — most nights we camped out, but sometimes we treated ourselves to a hotel, like after the day we set our 120-mile record,” said Wilson.

To sign the pledge or view podcasts of the ride, log onto www.rideforthefuture.org.

Jennifer Raley can be reached at jraley@times-news.com.