Deven Sewhuk-Thomas of Nashua recently biked 3,700 miles from Seattle to Washington D.C. The Grand Tetons in Wyoming can be seen in the background. Courtesy photo/Deven Sewhuk-Thomas

NASHUA – Following his junior year at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Deven Sewhuk-Thomas, 21, of Nashua, hopped on his Felt VR60 and biked 3,700 miles from Seattle to Washington D.C.

A 2023 graduate of Nashua High School North, Sewhuk-Thomas said he signed up for the trip last winter after hearing about it from a friend.

“He’d done the same trip two years prior and emphasized to me how life changing it was,” said Sewhuk-Thomas, adding that he was joined by a group of 22 other participants. “I knew it was something I’d regret not doing, so I signed up on the spot without even knowing the logistics of it.”

He said the ride, Journey of Hope, was organized by The Ability Experience, a nonprofit organization, which is part of Sewhuk-Thomas’ fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.

“Young men of my fraternity have been taking it upon themselves to participate in this trip for years. Our goal is to create an inclusive community through service and developing leadership,” he said.

The other objective was to raise money and awareness for disability organizations across the country.

“I raised $8,000 and between two different teams we were able to raise just under $600,000,” said Sewhuk-Thomas.

After completing the required 1,000 miles of training, Sewhuk-Thomas left Seattle on June 2.

However, just two days into the trip, his team was faced with its greatest challenge.

“We rode from Enumclaw, Wash. to Yakima, Wash.,” said Sewhuk-Thomas. “That ride took us through Mount Rainier National Park, a 118-mile ride and 8,000 feet of elevation. Since it was day two, we were all untested.”

Sewhuk-Thomas said it was “very cold” when he began the upward trek at 5 a.m.

“Once we reached the top, the temperature dropped further and there was still snow on the ground,” he said. “This ride set the tone for the rest of the trip and we knew that since we made it through Rainier, anything was possible.”

In addition to riding an average of 80 miles each day, Sewhuk-Thomas also adjusted to a much different lifestyle.

“Living simply was such a great experience,” he said. “We slept on floors aside from a couple nights we had hotel rooms. Local churches, schools and gyms would sponsor our lodging, giving us a place to stay for the night.”

He said the best part of the journey was the route through Wyoming. Despite the mountainous terrain, Sewhuk-Thomas said the landscape was breathtaking.

“Seeing places like the Grand Tetons and being able to enjoy the scenery at a pace of about 20 miles per hour is something not many people get to experience,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

He said biking uphill would extend each day’s ride with the longest one being the 135-mile swath from Indianapolis to Cincinnati.

On Aug. 8, two months after leaving Seattle, Sewhuk-Thomas arrived in the nation’s capital where his friends and family were waiting for him.

“I don’t think it really set in right away what we’d accomplished,” he said. “It was a moment shared as a team and everyone was super excited.”

Following the trip, Sewhuk-Thomas said he “slept in like crazy” and gained a new appreciation for having a bed. He said there was also a significant amount of mental recovery.

“It’s such a strange adjustment going from the fast-paced life of excessive physical activity and being in a different place every day,” he said. “It all ends so suddenly.”

Looking back, Sewhuk-Thomas said he would certainly recommend taking the trip.

“Work can wait, I gained so much more from this summer than I ever would’ve doing an internship,” he said.