Dan Bowen (left) and Steven Feigenbaum roll up to the beach.

By Kari Hartmann
HDSA-San Diego Intern

It was a beautiful day in San Diego, California to finish an 83-day rollerblading adventure for Steven Feigenbaum, Dan Bowen, and Phil Repaci. After beginning in St. Augustine, Florida, and taking a dip in the Atlantic Ocean on February 1, and finishing in San Diego in the Pacific Ocean on April 24, the men remembered how each day was a new adventure.

In 2008, Steven began wondering if anyone had ever rollerbladed across the United States for a cause. After deciding that he was going to do it, but not alone, he got in touch with Dan. The two had only known each other for six months, but together founded a non-profit organization, In Motion for a Million, and began planning their rollerblading trek across America.

In Motion for a Million’s goal is to get one million people to donate one dollar each to support HDSA and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Both of these causes are dear and near for Steven and Dan. In 2005 Steven lost his Aunt Brenda to Huntington’s disease after a ten-year fight. Steven skated in memory of his aunt and in support of his two at-risk cousins, as well as everyone else who is affected or could be affected by HD.

Dan lost his mother to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1985, when he was only five years old. The courage his mother exhibited during her battle has always inspired him.

It took Steven and Dan 18 months to set up a trek that would only take three months to complete. Most of the planning was done via Skype, while Steven was busy teaching English and training in Korea.

 “I never woke up once and said, ‘I don’t want to do this today,’” Steven said about the daily demands of the trek. “People think that we inspire and motivate them, but Dan and I believe it’s the other way around.”

Said Dan, “We skated for the people who are suffering, but we also skated for the families, to hope that one day they don’t have to deal with these diseases anymore. We don’t know if these diseases will be cured in our lifetime, but we’re here now, and hopefully we’ll play a small role in getting rid of these diseases one day.”

Steve Bowen douses son Dan (left), Steven, and Phil with champagne (photo by HDSA- San Diego). Steven and Dan got support from people throughout their journey.  “If it weren’t for the generosity of people across America, whether it be local shops, restaurants and RV parks, this would never have been possible,” said Dan. “We are so thankful to them.” Steven and Dan approached friend Phil Repaci to take part in their adventure. Phil is a retired New York City police officer. He lost a good friend to Leukemia, so when Steven and Dan came to him, he volunteered to be their manager and drive the motor home (generously donated by Ken Rolfsness of Utah) in which they rested each night. Phil cooked their meals, watched over them as they skated, and cheered them on. I had assumed that Steven and Dan had taken turns on the road, with one skating while the other rested. I was impressed to learn that they had skated the entire 3,000 miles together, thirteen hours each day. “Never missed a stride!” Dan exclaimed.   HDSA-San Diego board member Sally Cravens officially welcomes Dan and Steven to San Diego (photo by HDSA-San Diego). But the trek did have its challenges. Dan told of the worst day of all, in Texas, when it was 82 degrees. The next morning they woke up and to a 28-degree temperature, snow, and hail. But, Dan said, their tribulations on the road paled in comparison to the challenges face by people with HD, leukemia, or lymphoma. To date In Motion for a Million has raised some $15,000. "Our goal is to reach one million dollars," Dan said. "We're not stopping (our fundraising) until we've reached that." After their trek Steven and Dan spent a week relaxing in San Diego, going to baseball game and visiting friends. They participated in HDSA- San Diego's Race Across America golf tournament on April 30. As for now Steven and Dan will return to their homes in New York, Dan exclaimed: "Flying in an airplane!" To learn more about In Motion for a Million and donate, please visit www.InMotionForAMillion.org or become a fan on its Facebook page.