During a fundraising bike ride to benefit hearing-impaired children, Jordan Brennan of Caro pauses with her family in St. Ignace Friday, August 3. Pictured (from left) are Jordan, her mother, Tami, her brother, Chandler, and her sister, Katy. The family rode from Caro to Sault Ste. Marie and stopped in St. Ignace for a day-long break. Twelve-year-old Jordan Brennan of Caro enlisted the company of her family for a fundraising bicycle ride of more than 300 miles. They traveled from Caro to Sault Ste. Marie to benefit the international Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment (HIKE). In good spirits and good health, the jovial riders arrived in St. Ignace Friday, August 3, and took a day-long break Saturday, before continuing north along Mackinac Trail.

Miss Brennan is part of a Masonic organization called Job's Daughters International. Her group, Bethel 77 of Caro, makes a point of helping hearing-impaired children obtain hearing aids.

Some children do not qualify for state or federal aid, nor do they have insurance, said Tami Brennan, Miss Brennan's mother. The HIKE program is designed to help them obtain the devices they need.

Along the way, public reaction to Miss Brennan's ride was positive.

"People are thrilled that she is taking this on," Mrs. Brennan said, adding that the family plans to do the same fundraiser next year.

The Brennans traveled along two rail trails, one near Bay City and another near Cheboygan, but the bulk of the Lower Peninsula portion of the ride took place along picturesque M-23, which follows the Lake Huron coast.

"It has been pretty fun," Miss Brennan said, "except for hills."

As they traveled, she created a day-by-day blog, which described the trip. Her father, Tom Brennan, took notes for her via cell phone and typed the entries.

Chandler Brennan, Miss Brennan's brother, pointed out that the family very much appreciated the trees as they rode.

The ride began Sunday, July 29, and Mrs. Brennan said she was hoping to reach Brimley State Park Sunday, August 5. There, they will serve as campground hosts until Labor Day, when Mr. Brennan will pick them up and take them home.

The family was been well supplied with food, water, tire patches, and other needs by a "pit crew" composed of Mrs. Brennan's uncle, Chet Gross of Caro, and her youngest son, seven-year-old Charlie Brennan.

None of the family had been on a bike ride longer than 30 miles before.

Along the way, the family has collected pledges and donations.

People throughout the state tracked the family's progress and noted their progress on the Web site http://bike4hike.tripod.com. Information about the fundraiser, contributing to HIKE, and Job's Daughters International is available there.

Interested parties can contribute directly to HIKE on the site. Contributions can also be made by sending a check to the HIKE Fund at 156 North State Street, Caro, Michigan, 48723. Checks are received by the Masons and forwarded to HIKE.