11 Cyclists Making Cross-Country Trip To Benefit The Friendship Circle

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Six weeks, 3,100 miles.

Eleven cyclists are traveling coast-to-coast on a special mission.

These cyclists, from all over the country, joined together in San Diego, California for a journey through 15 states.

This week, they're in Pittsburgh.

"We were warned about it and it's true, there is a lot of climbing here, a lot of climbing. We had a little bit of a flat week or two coming through Ohio, just minor hills, we get here and as you know, 6,7,8, 9,000 feet of climbing in a day," Moshe Teitelbaum said.

The trip is tiring, but it's worth it.

It's all to benefit The Friendship Circle - an organization that helps children and young adults with special needs become more integrated into their communities.

The guys are making official stops in 40 cities and in each one, they spread an important message.

"It's just a general, positive message of inclusion of finding every child, making sure every single child has a friend," Teitelbaum said.

This is the last week of the trip.

The group is set to arrive in New York City Sunday morning, where the cyclists plan to dip their bikes into the Atlantic Ocean.

The last leg of the journey will be an exhausting one, but they said raising awareness for children keeps them going.

"Everyone is super energized and we're going to really need it because there are some crazy hills ahead of us. There are mountains along the way. Some of our toughest climbing is this week, but everyone's got that light at the tunnel there, everyone's got that goal in the back of their mind and everyone is ready to go. We are pushing through it, we're going to make it all the way," Teitelbaum said.