Bernie Buffone has bicycled thousands of miles and has many more ahead of him. All he’s asking for in return is the change in your pocket.
Buffone began his trek in Nescopek, Pa., last June, asking people to donate quarters to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. Traveling on his own, he’s ridden from Pennsylvania to California and is now heading back to finish his journey in Maine.
Sitting in Tom & Suzie’s Diner in Holbrook, Buffone warmed himself with a hot cup of coffee before heading out to the icy road with a plan to cover at least 40 miles on his bicycle before camping on the side of the road for the night.
The journey has been rigorous, but the cause is worthwhile. “This is all for the kids. One hundred percent of what people donate goes to research. None of this is for me,” he said.
The road has taken its toll on Buffone who, at 63, is in excellent health, but admits one of his legs is beginning to cause him pain after continuous riding and cold nights in a small tent. He travels alone and packs everything he uses on his bicycle. “I have a change of clothes, a camp stove, 10 days worth of food, a tent and some basic repair tools. It’s not much, but I can’t get too weighed down.”
Despite the hardships of biking 8,500 miles, Buffone’s determination has not waned and he’s passionate about his goal, which is to get 11 million quarters that will, in turn, benefit children suffering from cancer. “Yeah it’s hard, but every day I think of those kids being sick and scared, and know they have it so much worse than any of this,” he said.
Heading east from Holbrook, Buffone is hoping to make it to Maine by October. Though he is a retired quality assurance engineer for a design and construction company in Manhatten, Buffone is often mistaken for a homeless man as he makes camp in rest areas or in alleyways. His expenses come from his own pocket, and he makes every penny count.
“People try to give me money to help me on my way, but I won’t take it. A few people have offered a place to sleep or some food, and that’s OK. I’ve had people actually come up to me with handfuls of quarters to donate, and I just smile and let them know that they have to send it in, I don’t take any of it,” he said.
When asked what it is he thinks about as he marks mile after mile of his journey, his response is immediate. “It’s people like the news media, who get the word out there; the researchers, who devote so much time and energy to finding a cure; and the kids and their parents, who go through so much. That’s what this is all about,” he said.
While Buffone is on the road he has a support crew that notifies the media in advance of his arrival and updates his Facebook page. “I encourage people to visit my Faceboook page and post their photos if they see me and to follow along. I’ve met some terrific people on this journey,” he concluded.
As Buffone stretched himself to continue his journey he smiled at the waitress as he paid for his coffee. Then he put on his gloves and mounted his bike to continue his ride for the children who anxiously wait for a cure.
To learn more about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to donate your quarters, go online to www.stjude.org. To follow Buffone on his journey, go to Facebook and search for Bernie Buffone.
