Man bikes across country for worthy cause

One man with a passion is worth more than ten with passing interest.

David Sylvester, a Penn physical trainer and fitness consultant, lives by this motto.

On June 24, Sylvester will ride his bike from Oregon to Philadelphia to raise money for a scholarship fund in memory of his good friend Kevin Bowser, who died on September 11 in the World Trade Center attacks.

Bowser -- an influential figure in Sylvester's life -- made Sylvester more aware about his health and helped him improve his diet.

"Whenever I would eat something like a cheese steak, Kevin would ask, 'Do you know what is in that?'" Sylvester said. "He was always bringing by articles and information on health, healing and macrobiotics."

"Without him I wouldn't be here in a mental state to devote my body and time to a worthy cause," Sylvester added.

Sylvester is signed up for an America by Bicycle program that will lead him, along with 40 other bikers, through ten states and even into Canada in 50 days.

However, Sylvester is the only biker riding for charity.

"What he's doing is a splendid and selfless thing," work-out buddy David Wieck said.

Even though Sylvester is used to a lot of physical activity and endurance from previously competing in triathlons, half marathons and century bike rides, he has never done anything quite like riding across country.

"One day I'm scared, the next day I'm looking forward to it. I just want to get it over with." Sylvester said.

From New Hampshire to Philadelphia -- in fact, to Bowser's father's house -- Sylvester will have to plan his own route, but will be accompanied by Anne Burke, a liver doctor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Burke is lending Sylvester $3,500 to cover the cost of two-thirds of his trip.

"Dave's already giving two months of his time and lost earnings during that time, so he can't be expected to cough up the price of the ride," Burke said.

Although Sylvester's earnings will take a dip during the time that he's on his trip, this loss pales in comparison to the loss of his friend and the money that will be raised.

"I wanted to do something [for Kevin], but I wanted to do something that was kinda big. Kevin was a role model for me and maybe I can be a role model for somebody else," Sylvester said.

As of now, Sylvester is just trying to get the word out about his ride and has only been getting donations from individuals. He is also working with The Philadelphia Foundation to help raise more money.

Just over the past couple of weeks, Sylvester said that he has raised at least $8,000.

All of the money donated to his ride will go to The Kevin Bowser Memorial Scholarship Fund, which was established by Sylvester to give financial assistance to a Bartrum High School student.

"Kelvin Bowser [Kevin's twin brother] wants to send it to someone who is a student as well as an athlete. I don't want to pigeon hole it like that -- the academic portion is correct. So we haven't exactly nailed [the scholarship] down yet," Sylvester said.

Bowser was a graduate of Bartrum High, but Sylvester hopes that the ride will have an impact on the entire Philadelphia community as well.

"[The ride] is a statement about Kevin, it is a statement about health and it is a statement about the community," Sylvester said.

"We are only hear for a short amount of time, so we better make it count," he added.

However, Sylvester is hoping that the ride will set an additional example for the black community since he believes they are particularly unhealthy and out of shape.

"The cheese steak is the staple of our diet. I'm setting an example for blacks by this bike trip. Maybe if some black [person] sees me doing this then they will think maybe I can do this," Sylvester said. "I want them to know that there are other activities outside of football and basketball."

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