Princeton Students Cycle Cross-Country For Mental Health

Princeton NJ

07 May, 2021

12:22 PM

Description

PRINCETON, NJ — Charlie Bagin and Maddie Plank, two Princeton University basketball players, had no plans of taking a gap year. And then the pandemic hit. With classes going virtual, the 2020 semester was no longer what they hoped it would be. So, they did the next best thing — take a gap year, hop on a bicycle and go on a cross-country trip. On April 10, Bagin and Plank began bicycling across the country to take in the sights and raise awareness for mental health. "I didn't want to do virtual classes and wanted to save a year of eligibility for basketball," Bagin told Patch over the phone from East Indianapolis. "I thought it would be neat to see our country and take on the challenge both physically and mentally and have some fun." For Plank, the gap year choices were either work in an office and build on her resume or "diversify" her experiences. "I worked on farms and did a variety of different jobs throughout the year just to make sure that I was staying on my toes. Then I decided to do this bike trip so I wouldn't burn out when I got to school next year," she said. Before embarking on their trip, the duo prepared themselves by biking 30 to 40 miles a couple of times a week. "Now it's completely different. We are on the road with 40 pounds on our back. We take breaks once an hour. It's definitely more challenging," said Plank, a freshman. The students have a blog that they update every day. They use the app 'Warm Showers' to find leads on where to stay the night. "We've met a lot of great people. Retired grandparents who have taken us in, an older gentleman, legislators — so many different types of people living all across the country. It's pretty awesome," said Bagin whose family is from Glen Ridge, New Jersey. "Sometimes we find really cool people to stay with. If not, we have our tent that we set up on a nearby campground," said Plank. Although they are vaccinated, Bagin and Plank still follow all COVID-19 precautions while on the road. "In places like the Midwest, COVID precautions don't necessarily align with what we're used to on the East Coast," said Plank. "We're just doing our best when we meet people — keep our distance and be smart. But it's been pretty hard." Through their travels, Bagin and Plank have been raising money for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). "I've seen a lot of struggles arise just last year with the pandemic. It's a really important issue and we want to get people talking about it," said Bagin. On their blog, Plank writes about her struggles with an eating disorder. She said she used her quarantine time "on resolving my body dysmorphia, excessive stress surrounding food, and unhealthy eating habits." Between the two, Bagin is the planner. "Charlie pretty much planned all of this (trip) in probably a few weeks," said Plank. "I just kind of suggested which direction would be fun to head in and which spots we should hit." Plank, on the other hand, brings her much-needed positive energy to the trip. "On days when I'm down, she is able to bring a lot of positive energy. She is probably a little more spontaneous than me," said Bagin, who studies operations research and financial engineering. Bagin and Plank plan to return to campus in the fall. "We were definitely not besties before this trip," said Plank. "But I'm super happy we decided to do this and to raise money for something as we make this journey." To follow Charlie and Maddie as they journey through the country, click here. You can also donate to NAMI by clicking here. Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.