A father-daughter team will begin a bike trip across America today to raise funds for the Arthritis Foundation, specifically to fight juvenile arthritis.

Joe Statt, 55, and his daughter, Megan Statt, 22, of Finneytown, will begin the 3,300-mile bike trip in Seattle around 3 p.m. They flew there this morning from Dayton.

"I started planning some kind of fund-raiser, when my grandson, Jacob, was diagnosed with arthritis this spring," Joe Statt said.

Joe Statt of Finneytown (left) on his bike in front of his home Thursday with daughter Megan and grandson Jacob. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

Statt, a corporate trainer, said he has been working out for the bike trip for two months, riding about two miles a day.

"I feel I am in pretty good shape. I have lost 15 pounds," he said. "We are loaded up with camping equipment, saddle bags, clothes and tools."

Megan Statt, a recent graduate of Miami University in Oxford with degrees in public administration and sociology, decided to join her father on the trip after she completed a 12-week Seasongood Internship with the city of Cincinnati.

The bike trip is expected to take 42 days, moving from Seattle across Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia, ending in Kitty Hawk, N.C.

"We expect to come to Cincinnati about the third week of September," he said. "Several people are scheduled to ride with us through Cincinnati."

"This is a good point in my life to do this," Megan Statt said. "I came right out of college and went into the internship and now that it is over. I can take a break."

She said has been training about a month, riding about an hour a day.

Joe Statt said he had set a goal of $10,000, but said he believes they can raise more.

They will talk with people along the way about contributing to the fund-raising ride. They are covering their own expenses.

Statt said contributions may be made to Grandpa's Ride, care of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, 7124 Miami Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45243.

Jacob, the grandson, is the son of Todd and Kristen Statt. He is a student at Kings Mills Elementary School.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News" column runs daily. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.