*** UPDATE***

Hi everyone ---

Another HUGE thank you from me to all of you who have donated, reached out, and shared this fundraiser. I'm so, so, grateful for the support I have received and the fact that I passed my stretch goal with ease. It's incredible and your support will make all the difference.

I have started to put together a list and begun purchasing some items! I will be updating my website with more info on that shortly, so you can get an understanding of what my gear looks thanks to you!

I have decided to leave the fundraiser open until this coming Friday at 5pm, so that anyone who feels moved to donate can still do so - there are definitely items such as additional lights for my bike that weren't included in either budget, but can still keep me safer on the road.

thank you again for making me feel so supported. It means a lot!!

Old Content Below

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Hi everyone,

In just under six weeks, my formerly fractured body and I will be setting out on a challenge that only a few years ago I never thought would be possible.

On July 11–12, I'll be riding the Seattle to Portland Classic, covering 207 miles over two days. I'll spend about 20 hours in the saddle, eat my weight in snacks, keep a 15 mile/hr average, and will sleep on a cot in a church with other cyclists at mile 107 overnight. I'm registered, my training is going well, and I have a bike and basic gear I trust. But there are still a few important pieces of equipment that would make this ride significantly safer, more comfortable, and more achievable for me.

I'm hoping you'll take a few minutes to read my story and, if you're able, help support this journey.

Thank you. Your support means more than I can say.

— Perry

Why I'm Doing This Ride

Eight years ago, I was struck by a car traveling over 40 miles per hour while crossing SE 82nd Avenue in Portland. The collision shattered my pelvis, fractured vertebrae, and severely injured my liver and internal organs. I was rushed to the hospital and came dangerously close to becoming another traffic fatality.

What followed was an 18-month recovery marked by multiple major surgeries, extensive implanted metal hardware, months spent in bed and in a wheelchair, the potential for intense chronic pain, uncertainty, and the complete upheaval of my life. My finances were hugely impacted, and I navigated much of that recovery with the support of a remarkable community of close friends.

I've been a cyclist for most of my life, and eventually I knew I needed to get back on a bike—not to prove anything, but to find out who I was on the other side of that experience.

Little by little, I rebuilt my strength, confidence, and trust in my body. The rides got longer. The fear became quieter. By 2022, I completed my first century ride: 100 miles in a single day.

Each milestone felt like reclaiming a piece of what I'd lost on December 24, 2018. As I learned to live in my new body, I also began healing from the trauma of nearly dying on the road.

Years ago, I made a promise to myself: when I was ready, I would take on a true, organized and timed long-distance cycling event

Now that time has come, and the Seattle to Portland Classic 2026 will be my first official race.

Why Your Support Matters

My injury taught me many things. It taught me how quickly life can change. It taught me what resilience looks like. It taught me to find joy even during uncertainty, pain, and fear.

Today, cycling is one of the ways I connect with that joy.

As a working-class first-generation immigrant who is visibly queer, trans, and gender-nonconforming, there are plenty of reminders in the world that life can be dangerous, options are limited, and there is rejection, control and hostility at every turn. Finding things that make me feel strong, free, and fully alive matters. Showing others that you can survive and thrive, matters. Living is doing. And this ride is how I am doing joy.

I'm doing the ride no matter what.

The challenge is that my body has some very specific needs after everything it's been through, and the gear that best supports those needs isn't cheap. A single high-quality pair of cycling shorts can cost upwards of $200. A fancy saddle for my reconstructed, heavy metal pelvis can cost $300+.

The funds raised will help cover items such as a reliable bike computer to help me track my speed, energy output, and stay on route for 200+ mile event, and upgraded tires that provide shock absorption to keep my joints healthy. It'll mean I don't have to scrimp on nutrition, and can get the comfy bar tape to keep my hands working. It means better training, and less stress.

I've put countless hours into training for this ride. I'm ready to give it everything I have.

If you're able to contribute, you'll be helping me show up to this event with the equipment I need to succeed—not just to finish, but to ride my best.

Thank you for reading, for cheering me on, and for being part of this journey.

I can't wait to share the finish line with all of you.