Jim Campbell's 2008 Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic that he rode 30,000 miles to raise money for MDA
Jim Campbell rolled up to his home in Pueblo, CO, this morning around 11:30 a.m., having just completed a bit of a ride on his 2008 Harley-Davidson Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic. No big deal or anything, just a quick 30,000-mile run over 30 days, to raise money for muscular dystrophy.
You read that right. Thirty thousand miles in 30 days. In his longest day Jim covered 1,654 miles. And he only got four speeding tickets. And he raised nearly $20,000 for muscular dystrophy research.
(Note: For photos of the ride, see the slideshow at the bottom of this page.)
Jim's route took him first in a loop around the continental U.S. and then criss-crossing back and forth. His motivation for undertaking this daunting ride is his mother, "her ability to give till it hurts." Writing a check is one thing but in his mother's mind, "You give till you can feel it. This is my version of that," he says. And why MDA? "It's MDA's affiliation with Harley-Davidson, and it's a charity I believe in."
Jim has been and continues to solicit donations of one cent or two cents per mile for every mile he has ridden. "One penny and two pennies add up. Every penny equals $300." Donations can be made on his FaceBook page, 30K FOR MDA.
And what was it like riding 30,000 miles in 30 days?
"I slept on a lot of picnic tables at rest areas. I also slept on my bike. Everything was about making the miles. There were days when I didn't even eat."
The first several days were fun, says Jim, and then he hit bad weather. At one point he rode for eight hours straight in the rain.
Bad weather in Wyoming yesterday made Jim Campbell reroute
"Bad weather throughout the trip seemed to follow me."
He was headed back to Milwaukee yesterday where Harley-Davidson was planning an event to honor him but he ran into ice in snow in Wyoming so he headed back to Utah. Then, only 500 miles from home today, he took a more roundabout route in order to get the miles. Leaving his last stop just after midnight, he rolled in a little before noon.
Jim makes no bones about the fact that he exceeded the speed limit much of the time.
"I've been pulled over in every other state, but when I told them what I was doing most of them let me go, telling me to slow down, they don't want to come back for an accident."
Throughout the trip, the people Jim met were enthralled with what he was doing and pressed donations on him. "People would say, 'Here's $50, I don't need a receipt. You're doing a good thing.' The generosity was overwhelming. These are the people who'll bring our country back. They're the heart of America and I'm proud to know them."
The ride reportedly has set a world record for this sort of thing, although Jim says Guinness has stopped reporting them because of the possible danger involved in someone trying to break such records.
Although some changes were necessary, the following was Jim's starting itinerary. He left on the trip on Sept. 11.
Denver- Milwaukee - 1050
Milwaukee-Boston - 1108
Boston-Atlanta - 1075
Atlanta-San Antonio - 1000
San Antonio-Phoenix - 992
Phoenix- Denver..(pit stop) - 931
Denver-Reno - 1035
Reno- Seattle - 800
Seattle-Rapid City - 1144
Rapid City-Chicago - 931
Chicago-San Antonio - 1200
San Antonio-Denver (pit stop) - 993
Denver- Louisville - 1103
Louisville-Miami - 1078
Miami-DC - 1043
DC-Kansas City - 1095
Kansas City- New Orleans - 918
New Orleans-Denver - 1279
Denver-Phoenix - 931
Phoenix-Reno - 1076
Reno-Spokane - 998
Spokane-Minneapolis - 1022
Minneapolis-Denver (pitstop) - 920
Denver-St Louis - 990
St Louis-NY - 982
NY-Daytona - 1028
Daytona-Dallas - 1089
Dallas-Phoenix - 1067
Phoenix-Boise - 998
Boise-Pueblo - 921
Total - 30797
Jim's story is too much to tell in one article, so I'll be bringing you more in the next couple days. Right now I suspect he's looking forward to staying put for a bit.
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Tales from the road: 30K in 30 days for MDA
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Comments
Great story; great cause. Thanks for reporting.
I just don't believe it. He did it for a great cause, but I just don't believe it is possible to do 1000+ miles a day continuous for 30 days.
Why should motorcyclists support the MDA--inefficient, poor-administered, rated only two-star by Charity Navigator--when there are so many other charities rated higher for doing more with less? Better question is, why should bikers support ANY non-biker charity ... and thereby indirectly fund the anti-motorcycle healthcare and insurance lobbies ... while every year more than 108,000 biker households suffer loss of income, limb or life ... incurring catastrophic medical bills, burial costs and other expenses ... often due to failure-to-yield and other right-of-way violations resulting from the discretionary distractions of care-less cagers who go unpunished for their crimes? Who is more deserving of biker charity than our own? More here: tinyurl[dot]com/pgny4n
Great story. I look forward to hearing more.
For all who care..I have all the logs, gas receipts, and signed journal from around the country for the 31 days... I can't believe that I did it either, and not be "taken out" by a car, or Semi truck...( my biggest worry )
I can tell you firsthand that he DID indeed do all those miles & did them consecutively. It is amazing to me as well and went without sleep a lot, didn't stop for weather when he probably should have, & in many cases risked life & limb to complete his goal (don't try this at home kids). He is a very driven guy, to say the least, which is probably one of the reasons I married him.
What a fabolous article, looking forward to seeing more. He completed the ride for a good cause and I couldnt me more proud!
I can tell you firsthand that he DID indeed do all those miles & did them consecutively. It is amazing to me as well and went without sleep a lot, didn't stop for weather when he probably should have, & in many cases risked life & limb to complete his goal (don't try this at home kids). He is a very driven guy, to say the least, which is probably one of the reasons I married him.
Thank you, Mr. Bingenheimer, for being one of the first to bring this story to light. Jim was very meticulous in keeping records of his journey from gas receipts to regular entries for his followers on Facebook (30K for MDA). For those who suffer with Muscular Dystrophy, it is people like Jim who offer a ray of hope that someday a cure might be found. Until then, MDA offers respite, assistance, and valuable resources to those who suffer daily. Thirty days of dedicated riding should offer inspiration to the rest of us so that we, too, may ask, what can we do to help our fellow people whether it be charitable donations or a smile of encouragement to someone who needs it.
Leave it to Bruce Arnold to knock a great accomplishment and then try to slip in his own agenda. What an ass.
Good job, Jim.
Have you submitted your documentation to the Iron Butt Association for certification? If not, you should. There are only 4 other riders who have been cerificed as riding 30,000+ miles in 30 days so far.
Good job, Jim. Pay 'brucearnold' no mind. He's just a wannabe trouble maker. "Ass" is too good of a name for him.
Bruce,
I know where your coming from man. I lost one of my best friends earlier this summer to one of those careless right of way violations, (He was part of the reason I did this ride this year, we never know when times up). And I could have ridden for any charity, Cancer, MS, Biker Charities like yours, there are so many.... My ONLY WISH was to inspire others to be "more then just themselves" and let them carry the torch for your good cause, and many other's, and let their actions inturn inspire other's. You seem very passionate about life, and I admire that in other's. Ride safe my friend, and if you have a cause I will be glad to come ride your event.
>>I just don't believe it. He did it for a great cause, but I just don't believe it is possible to do 1000+ miles a day continuous for 30 days.<<
It is possible, from the Iron Butt Association certified ride list:
The Longest Month... (30 days - 30,000 Miles)
Name State Date Motorcycle Mileage/Days
Senator Dave Zien Eau Claire, WI 07/05 H-D FXRT 30,061 30
Michael LaDue Seattle, WA 05/03 Honda GL1800 30,681 30
Phil Mattson Creston, IA 07/01 H-D FLHTCI 30,603 30
Bill Newton California 09/99 Honda ST1100 30,279 30
If he submits his ride for independent verification, Jim will be on a very short list!
This made my buns hurt just reading this story but this story will be told for generations in his family, no doubt.
Sharon in Dallas
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