NICK NEWS by Nickelodeon for Kids posts story about Cycling 4 Hope!

Cycling 4 Hope by Nickelodeon Nick News

400 miles is a long way to ride on a bicycle.

"I've never ridden this far before," said 13-year-old Andrew Bennett, in an interview with the Holland Sentinel, his local newspaper in Holland, Michigan.

But from July 21st to July 27th, Andrew, his 15-year-old sister and two friends rode their bikes from Holland to Mackinaw City, Michigan - a 400-mile trip - to raise money for kids in India.

The four Michigan kids hope to raise $16,000 to buy a van for kids who live in a children's home in the Indian city of Rajnandgaon.

15-year-old Barrett Mills said he heard about the Indian kids from his father, who met the director of the children's home while visiting Bangladesh last year.

(Bangladesh and India are neighboring countries.)

Barrett says his father told him about the jeep the kids have to ride to school in right now - a jeep that's nearly 50 years old.

"The jeep is constantly breaking down, almost every day," Barrett said, in an interview with the Grand Traverse Insider, which is another Michigan newspaper. "They can't keep paying the repair bills. So I decided then I had to try and do something."

"Something" turned out to be the "Ride Across Michigan 4 Hope."

Mills got 15-year-old Ben Zelent to join him on the ride, along with Andrew and Abby Bennett.

The four set off from Holland, Michigan on July 21st.

According to Insider reporter Colin Merry, Barrett's father followed the four riders in a camper for safety, along with Andrew and Abby's father.

"My aunt and uncle will be coming along with a camper, too," Barrett told Merry before the ride. "They've offered to be the camp cooks."

The riders blogged about their journey along the way.

On Monday the 27th, they posted the following message: "WE DID IT WE MADE IT WE DID IT ... MACKINAW BRIDGE IS (IN) OUR VIEW."

Barrett's father is rightfully proud of his son and the other riders.

"This is about kids helping kids," Tim Mills told Merry. "How could I stand in the way of that?"

According to media reports, the kids had already raised $7,000 going into the ride.

They're working with a group called World Hope International to try to raise the rest.

According to Barrett, it's all about giving the Indian kids an opportunity to get a good education - an education that could lead to a better life.

"This children's home, they're offering (the Indian kids) hope and an opportunity," Barrett told Sentinel reporter Stephen Kloosterman. "Without (a new van), they don't have the opportunity."

"I think (the bike ride) sets a good example for other kids," Andrew added. "(It shows) that they can help out, too."