Lisa Sawicki had never pulled an all-nighter until this weekend when she spent 24 hours riding a stationary bike.
Sawicki, a UF sophomore, began biking outside of Hume Commons on Friday at 5 pm. and remained on the bike until 5 pm Saturday, only stopping for bathroom breaks. She ate granola bars, fruit and drank Gatorade while on the bike.
Sawicki planned the ride to raise money for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. She is a member of the Catholic Gators Relay for Life team, which will participate in the event this March.
"It is a very good cause," said Sawicki, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. "Cancer affects a lot of people in this country, and it is a disease that we need to research and find a cure for."
Sawicki's goal was to raise $2,400 during her ride. She collected between $600 and $650 in the donation cans placed on the table next to her bike.
Sawicki got the idea for a 24-hour bike ride over the summer after she participated in a cross-country bike trip from Jacksonville to San Francisco called Bike & Build. One of the men on the trip had done a 24-hour bike event and raised $16,000 for Habitat for Humanity.
"I figure I have to do it while I'm young and have the joints for it," she said.
Sawicki counted on the support of friends and family to make it through the ride. Members of the Catholic Gators Relay team took shifts to stay with Sawicki.
"We all support her and we'll be praying for her," said Michelle Abou-Jaoude, a UF sophomore and the team captain for the Catholic Gators Relay for Life team.
Sawicki's parents came from Tallahassee to encourage her through the ride. They brought her bike, collection jars and a special clock they made to help her count the hours.
"My parents are very supportive and very excited for me," she said.
Sawicki said that the hardest part of the ride was around the 12-hour mark. She did not enjoy the 27-degree weather at 5 am., and she rode for several hours with a blanket.
She estimated that she rode at a 10 mph pace, peddling for about 240 miles in total.
There were two other bikes set up next to her, so that supporters could ride part of the way with her.
"In my experience, I've realized it's really a mental thing," said Sawicki, who was more worried about the mental aspect of the event than the physical aspect. "You have to surpass it and say yes you can."
