Thirty-two cycling days, nearly 3,000 miles and more than $40,000: that's been recently retired Mike Finnegan's journey, so far, in his effort to give back to Withrow High School students.
Finnegan left in early June for Santa Monica, California where his cross country-country bike trip began. He made it to Washington, D.C. at the end of July with sore muscles, thousands of dollars in donations to the Mike Finnegan Health and Wellness Scholarship Fund and dozens of stories he'll be telling for years to come.
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Finnegan met with the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Cincinnati, members of Cincinnati Public Schools and Cincinnati city councilwoman Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney early Saturday morning to celebrate his journey.
"Relying on God, really, carried me through," Finnegan said.
There were many obstacles along the way. His team, Rahim Spence and Rebecca Jansen-McKinnis, sported three vehicles throughout the trip as they followed Finnegan along desert roads and Route 66, over to the U.S. Capitol.
The first van broke down in California, Finnegan said. The team carried their gear in a U-Haul for several miles before a friend drove to meet them in Arizona with another van.
"The harder it got, the more I enjoyed it," Finnegan said.
Finnegan said his bike fell off the back of the van during a thunderstorm in western Kentucky. When the team pulled over to a bike repair shop, he saw his dream bike and upgraded instead. He's calling his new wheels his "retirement bike."
Kearney spoke Saturday morning of Finnegan's dedication to and faith in his students. Teachers like him are "heroes," she said. Both she and CPS athletic director Josh Hardin said they are donating to Finnegan's scholarship fund and encouraged others in the community to do the same.
"Mike came to me back in the spring," back when CPS was in a hybrid learning model, Withrow principal Jerron Gray said. "(He said) 'I want to leave a legacy here. I want to leave a legacy for our students. I have a passion, I have a heart for our kids. I want to make sure that they have everything that they need to succeed.' "
Finnegan's scholarship will go towards one Withrow senior each year that has a passion for health, wellness or education. That student will also be connected with a mentor to see them through their college education.
Kim Wilson, president of the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Cincinnati, said she saw and helped ignite a fire in Mike when she met him. That fire is now a "wildfire," she said.
"I'm very proud of you," Wilson told Finnegan Saturday morning. "
After Saturday's press conference, Finnegan set off for a ride with the Major Taylor cyclists. He said he was tired Saturday morning – he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. He'll do a "short" ride of 25 miles, he said.
"This is just the beginning, this 3,000 mile trip," Finnegan said, as he reflected on his journey to give back to Withrow High School students.
Donations can be made to the Mike Finnegan Health and Wellness Scholarship Fund on his GoFundMe page, or on the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation website.
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