Dylan Hendrixson, a recent chemical and biomolecular engineering alumnus, took part in the Illini 4000 this past summer after graduating in May. The Illini 4000 gets its name from an approximately 4,000 mile bike ride across the country by Illinois students to raise money and awareness for cancer research.

Hendrixson was one of 18 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students on the 2024 ride that raised $60,000 and covered 4,645 miles from New York City to Crissy Field, Calif.

Hendrixson wanted to be a part of something like the Illini 4000 ever since he was in middle school. His middle school robotics teacher led a biking summer camp, guiding the team on 10 to 20 mile rides in the suburbs and city of Chicago. This was Dylan’s first introduction to cycling as a hobby.

“On my first ride in the camp, I showed up with a BMX bike,” Hendrixson said. “Looking back, it’s funny to think about how much I enjoyed it, given you’d never see a BMX bike among road cyclists.”

Hendrixson credits this camp for his passion for biking, “It gave me a sense of freedom I hadn’t experienced before—I could explore places I once needed my parents to drive me to.”

When Hendrixson discovered that his teacher had biked across the country, he was amazed. Although it initially seemed impossible, he was also inspired to try it for himself.

“When I came to U. of I. and found out about the Illini 4000 club that rides cross-country, I knew I had to rise to the challenge.”

But that was easier said than done. Entering the U. of I. during the pandemic in the fall of 2020 meant that Illinois’ iconic Quad Day was like most things — held over Zoom. Although Hendrixson found his way to the club’s virtual booth, the call ended before he had the information he needed. Hendrixson ended up missing the application deadline for his freshman year and was too busy with internships and research during his sophomore and junior years.

Finally, in his senior year Hendrixson decided he could dedicate a summer to the Illini 4000. The training began in the fall and initially focused more on running than biking. By the spring, the team began biking together to practice for the summer. This was the first time Hendrixson went on long distance rides like the ones he would have to do all day, every day. Surprisingly, Dylan said he got used to these rather quickly.

During these practices, Hendrixson met the people that he would spend every day with over the summer. Despite not necessarily having any similarities on paper, he quickly became close friends with the team.

Once the team started out on their trip, not only did they bike long distances each day, but they also lived on the road. This came with a new set of hardships beyond the sore legs Hendrixson had been facing all spring.

“The hardest part was actually sleeping,” Hendrixson said with a laugh.

Each night the team would take turns calling different churches, mosques and synagogues to find a place for the team to sleep, he explained. Sometimes, if they were in a scenic area, they would stay at a campsite. Regardless of where they stayed, they spent every night on the floor in a sleeping bag.

After riding a bike day after day with sore legs, this got old fast, he said. But he was always mindful of the help the group received from people along the way.

“One of the biggest takeaways was realizing how generous people are—churches, synagogues, and YMCAs welcomed us along the way, often providing not only shelter but food.”

In spite of the sore legs and endless sleeping bags, there were plenty of highlights during the trip. The scenery included flat lands and mountains, corn fields and pine trees. One of Hendrickson’s favorite memories was the route leaving Meadowlark Lake in Wyoming.

“The day before, we had climbed nearly 7,000 feet, so waking up in our tents on a freezing morning was both exhausting and exhilarating. But the descent made it all worth it—we  dropped all the elevation we had gained over 15 miles, racing through a canyon. At one point, we were going 40 mph. It felt like I was in the Tour de France, riding through a European landscape.” Hendrixson said.  

Unfortunately, while biking through Montana soon afterward, Hendrixson was forced off the road by a car. He dislocated his elbow and was unable to complete the rest of the ride.

“That experience taught me a harsh but valuable lesson: no matter how carefully you plan, life can throw unexpected challenges your way,” Hendrixson said. “Your health really is your most important asset.”

Although Hendrixson had to end his ride for the summer early, he plans to finish it in the years to come. In the meantime, Hendrixson is now a Ph.D. student researching cultivated meat in the biomedical engineering department at Tufts University and deciding whether to pursue a career in academia or industry. Wherever he goes, though, Hendrixson will take with him many life lessons from the Illini 4000 summer experience – and Illinois as a whole.

“I learned the importance of not comparing yourself to others. Everyone’s journey is different, and that’s okay.” Hendrixson said.

About Illini 4000

Jon Schlesinger and Anish Thakkar started the Illini 4000 while students at the U. of I. in 2007. The team of 18 riders traveled from New York City to San Diego, raising $55,000 for the University of Illinois American Cancer Society and Camp Kesem. This donation allowed for a Camp Kesem chapter to open at the U. of I. Over the past seventeen years, Illini 4000 has had over two hundred and seventy-five riders who have raised and donated over 1 million dollars to 10 different charities.  

Illini 4000 is partnered with The Portraits Project, a collection of narratives exploring the different life experiences and personal beliefs in response to cancer from patients, survivors and caregivers. Throughout the cross-country bike ride Illini 4000 team members record these narratives from the communities they travel through. Since the original bike ride in 2007, Illini 4000 has collected over 200 stories, each detailing a unique cancer experience.