Eileen in New Zealand

Hello! My name is Eileen Mazzochette. I am a senior Electrical Engineering major at Lehigh University and will be graduating in May 2009. I grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ, just outside of Philadelphia in a crazy house with four younger brothers. My favorite place to be is anywhere that is outside. I love hiking, camping, rafting and most of all, playing on the beach where I spent my summers growing up!

I have set up this blog page to keep my friends, family and contributors up to date with what I am up to this summer. I will be updating this blog as often as possible both throughout the preparation and duration of this journey. I have also put together several pages to provide a small insight into what this program is all about and how it will be contributing to a great cause. Feel free to poke around and leave comments where ever you want! I would love to hear from you!

Bike and Build assembles eight groups of about thirty riders to cycle across the country each summer. While on the road we will meet with members of the communities we pass through, tell them about our trip and the affordable housing issue, and help them become involved in efforts to alleviate the problem. There will also be several days where we will trade our bikes for hammers, and help construct affordable homes with local affordable housing organizations like Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity. As part of my commitment to Bike and Build, I will be working this winter and spring preparing for the trip, learning about affordable housing, and helping to build homes with the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

I have always been an avid cyclist. It had always been my main mode of transportation when I was down the shore, but when I was in middle school, my grandmother was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). My family started a fundraising Bike-A-Thon to raise money for ALS research. I have participated in the 70-mile ride every year for the past eight. It is through this ride that I have found my love for two pedals and the open road. I have picked up a few extra charity rides along the way including the American Cancer Society ride in Philadelphia and Kelly’s Ride in South Jersey. I also joined the cycling team at Lehigh last year and hope to be racing this spring! I love being on my bike and cannot wait to spend a summer pedaling across the country!

This will be one of my first experiences with affordable housing groups. I am excited to learn about the construction of houses and meeting with the awesome people who volunteer with these groups. I think it’s a great way to learn and have fun, while also giving back to the community. The volunteers are able to see their productivity and gain a real understanding of how their work will contribute and help their peers.

I have made a slight dent in exploring the world by traveling places as far as New Zealand, but have not been able to gather even a small understanding of my own beautiful and diverse country! I cannot wait to get on my bike and pedal across this country meeting awesome new people!