Aultman Physical Therapist Scott Buckosh is getting ready to take a trip across the country. Along with nine friends, Scott will travel from California to Florida. Nope – it’s not a road trip. And they aren’t flying across the U.S. either. They are riding their bikes - for 3,054 miles.

Scott is one of ten bicycling enthusiasts from northeast Ohio who are going to literally ride across the country – starting in San Diego on Sept. 25, 2016. The group is planning to check this trip off their bucket list 10 days later, when they arrive in St. Augustine, Florida.

The trip isn’t just a bucket list item. The ten bikers are completing this amazing feat to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Together, the group has participated in more than 100 Team In Training events since 1999, raising over $1 million. Team In Training (TNT) is the flagship fundraising program for LLS and the only endurance sports training program that raises money for blood cancer research.

An avid cyclist and longtime athlete, Scott has been involved with TNT since attending his first meeting in 1998. “I was selfishly just looking for a cool place to ride my bike,” he said. “However, as the meeting progressed, I realized that almost every person in that crowded room had a similar story of how their family member or friend had been afflicted with a blood cancer. By the time all had shared, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.”

After that meeting, Scott told his wife that this was something he just had to do. She, too, was inspired - and they ended up doing his first “century” event (100-mile ride) together. After months of training with the TNT team and numerous fundraisers, the couple headed to Lake Tahoe, where together, they rode the 100 miles and ended up raising $7,600 for LLS.

Scott was hooked after that first century ride. He started recruiting others to join the cause, and even started coaching teams for TNT. Over the years, Scott has participated in century events all across the country, from Maryland to Oregon.

Just about five years ago, Scott felt his first very personal connection to cancer when his wife was diagnosed with two different cancers. “Neither cancer was blood borne, Scott said. “But it didn't take long to come to the stark reality that cancer is just that cancer - and it sucks! It made that drive to continue to stay involved that much stronger.”

Always looking for a new challenge, Scott spearheaded the planning and logistics for the upcoming cross-country trip. Along with a support staff of seven, the team of 10 experienced bicyclists will cover between 300 and 400 miles each day, for the entire 3,054 miles.

“Doing it this way, still gets us across the country in a reasonable time,” Scott explained. “There are quite a few pieces of the puzzle that must fit together each day to get this to happen.”

It’s all very worth it to Scott and his team, who have already raised about $216,000. Their goal is to hit $300,000 before they finish the ride.

The ten bikers will also wear special trackers during the trip, which enable people to follow along as they move across the country. Friends, family and supporters can visit the Biking Across America 2016 blog to follow the group on their journey.

To learn more or to make a donation, check out the website. You can also meet the whole team and check out their photos on Facebook.