A journey that seemingly started on Welch Avenue will soon take John Meirick across the United States.

On June 16 Meirick begins a long journey across the country on bicycle.

Meirick, senior in marketing, is participating in Bike & Build this summer. Bike & Build is program that raises money and provides muscle for affordable housing efforts.

For two months, from mid-June to mid-August, he will travel across the southern United States, stopping occasionally to help build houses. One notable stop will be in New Orleans.

Meirick said the stop in New Orleans is a significant reason he chose the route, but his reasoning also had a lot to do with time.

“I realized that if I wanted to do something like this I would have to do it before I got a job and entered the real world,” Meirick said.

A small number of people are involved with Bike & Build, and Meirick will be the first person from Iowa to participate.

He said the main reason he chose to participate in this program is there are no other organizations that do work like this, even if it is challenging to find a state of balance while preparing for the long trek.

“It’s very hard to balance everything,” Meirick said. “There’s school, work, training, my frat and raising money.”

In addition to being fit enough to make the journey, participants must contribute $4,000, which Meirick has been working hard to raise.

So far, he said, he has received $1,400 by playing his guitar on Welch Avenue and from family and friends.

He said he hopes publicity will make others aware of his causes and help fundraising efforts. Meirick remains optimistic that he will raise all the money he needs by June 14, when orientation for the ride begins.

Still, he said plan B is to take out loans if necessary.

Most of the training Meirick has been doing has taken place at the Lied Recreation Athletic Center. He said he has been doing a lot of riding on the stationary bike, as well as spending a lot of time in the sauna.

“I’m trying to prepare myself for the hot weather,” he said.

Even so, Meirick said it was his Iowa roots that got him involved with the program.

Meirick has been cycling seriously since he was in middle school and said his father was a driving force behind him getting involved in the sport.

He said his dad had been biking close to 16 years.

Meirick said the best part so far has been the support he’s received from friends and family.

Carolyn Clarke, senior in pre-business and friend of Meirick’s, said she was really impressed with Meirick’s plan to put his summer to good use.

“Not many people would want to give up so much to help,” Clarke said.

She said although Meirick has only told a few people, he should receive more support from fellow students once word gets out.

That’s the goal for Meirick, whose musical ability may just get him from Welch Avenue to the bayou.