Published on: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

By Nancy Royden

What do you get when you mix a pastor who loves to bike with his passion for children’s education? In Pastor Fred Hedt’s world you get more than $28,000 for scholarships for his Landover Hills students.

The Ascension Lutheran School pastor met the challenge of riding 185 miles in 21 hours last week on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, from Cumberland to Thompsons Boat Center, also known as Thompsons Boat House, in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. His endeavor took a little more time than he thought it would, but the end result is the same – helping others remain at the school he said has made it possible for students to learn and realize their dreams for more than 50 years.

“The school has been serving the community since 1952. We have a lot of people who have gone on to do great things,” he said. “The students get a good, strong academic education and it’s a values-centered education.”

Getting an education is not always an inexpensive proposition, but it is money well spent, the pastor said. The school has fewer than 200 students in grades kindergarten through eighth.

“These challenging economic times have pushed our congregation to find new ways to continue offering scholarships and support for the nearly 200 children who attend Ascension Lutheran School,” Hedt said. “I like to bike and I believe the school offers quality education, so this ride is my way of stimulating support for the school.”

The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is 184.5 miles long. Originally, it was a lifeline for communities and businesses along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, grain and other agricultural products floated down the canal to market,” according to the National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior’s Web site.

Hedt, 60, said he trained for the last four months to prepare to ride the entire trail by biking 60 to 100 miles, lifting weights and using an elliptical machine. His bike was modified to eliminate arm fatigue, which he said is one of the difficulties of long rides because his hands and fingers become numb.

“However, I love biking. It relieves stress while allowing me to experience the wonders of God’s creation. I think the C&O Canal is one of the most beautiful places in the world,” he said.

Janice McAllister, an admissions counselor at the school, said she was excited about Hedt’s adventure, and his dedication to train for the long trek.

Many locales on the trail were among Hedt’s favorites on the ride known as the C&O Challenge, he said. Some of the places he traveled through were: the Paw Paw Tunnel, the Maryland cities and towns of Little Orleans, Hancock, Fort Frederick, Williamsport, Brunswick, Whites Ferry, Seneca, and Swains Lock in Rockville, Md. He also ventured through parts of Shepherdsville, W. Va.

“It was one high point after another,” he said.

However, he said his favorite thing about the adventure was the launch and time when the sun was rising.

“One of my favorite parts was when the sun was bright and the fields were green and the greens were vivid,” he said.

Another high point for Hedt was when his daughter Bethany joined Hedt and cyclist Ed Coss at Mile Post 73 in Shepherdstown.

“Ed Coss rode the whole thing with me. He teaches in D.C. schools and is our summer camp director. He just kept me going,” Hedt said about Coss.

He was also assisted by son Matt, who was the mechanic and wife Alice, who drove the sag, or chase, wagon. Daughter Melissa and grand-daughter Kaya tracked the ride on the school’s Web site, Hedt said.

There were times when the cyclists had the challenge of riding in less than ideal situations.

“The Paw Paw Tunnel is 1,300 feet long and it’s totally dark in there. You get totally disoriented,” he said.

Hedt said the school has awarded $172,000 for scholarships this year, and money has to be raised to fund them

“We want to keep education possible for as many children as possible. This keeps me motivated,” he said.

And motivation is something Hedt received from his family, church members and employees at the school. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Branch 30979, the National Church Group Insurance Agency and College Park Bicycles sponsored the fund-raising effort.

“With your prayers and support and encouragement I was able to ride the entire C&O Trail in one day – something I’ve had my sights set on for a long time and was able to benefit our school’s scholarship program. When all the donations are collected, the C&O Challenge will have raised between $27,000 and $30,000. I’ll post the number when the final tally is made,” Hedt wrote in a blog on the school’s Web site.

On Saturday, donations kept coming in to the school, and they exceeded $27,000. Still, more money will be needed to help those affiliated with it meet their goal.

Hedt said graduates of the school recently held a reunion and have been making donations to the school.

In 2010, Hedt said he plans to do another challenge, and it could be a two-day ride from Pittsburgh to Georgetown, but he has not decided yet what he will do.

For now, he is grateful for the support he was shown during this year’s endeavor.

“I think the real focus of the ride is to benefit the school. It was one small thing I can do for the school,” he said.