Highway 2 Heal

My name is Eric Livingstone, and in a few months, I am bicycling across America on an important mission called Highway 2 Heal . I am reaching out to you because you can help me make a positive impact for children, and other surviving caregivers, who are suffering from the loss of a loved one due to cancer.  Considering all that 2020 and Covid ushered in, unfortunately, there are many more now dealing with the grief of a sudden loss or trauma.

Highway 2 Heal is a philanthropic mission with two objectives. One, help kids who have been impacted by cancer; Two,  connect to other surviving caregivers with a positive message: move your body!

I’m a single father to a 12-year-old boy named Eliya. After losing my wife to cancer in 2016, the ensuing years were filled with a deep loss of direction, grief and depression. Throughout my depression I carried a huge sense of guilt. Guilt stemming from not knowing how to connect with Eliya and help shepherd him through his pain.


On this nearly 3,500 mile bicycling journey, I travel to discover the tools that allow me to connect with my son and find the crossroads where grief and empowerment intersect. Through fireside chats or table side conversations with other surviving caregivers I will share what I've learned about how to move on and heal, and as important, listen to their messages of hope.
 
For weeks after Jackie's passing, family and friends held vigil around Eliya and I, eventually we all picked ourselves back up and got back to our lives. I buried myself in work thinking being a good provider was the answer. About a year later, Eliya comes home with a worksheet from his therapy session. On it he had written 'I miss my mommy and I miss my daddy.'
I was devestated. The thought of him feeling alone at this time and during his loss, destroyed me inside, I felt like I had abandoned my son.
How and why was I so out of touch with my son?  
This was my wakeup call.
I had already been repressing some instinct that my son needed me and now life was giving me the confirmation. My son needed me desperately! And as it turns out, I needed him just as much.



In 2018 I left my career so I could be more present in Eliya's life, provide some stability to him and begin to correct our lives. Times have been tough and thin but then miraculously we found Camp Kesem, the largest nationwide NPO dedicated to supporting children through and beyond a parent’s cancer –at no cost to families. My son went to Camp Kesem and came back a completely changed boy... and I had found a new purpose in my life. 

The philanthropic component of this mission is to leverage the ride into a platform to raise awareness and fundraise for Camp Kesem. I will ride across America for every surviving caregiver, while raising awareness and fundraising for Camp Kesem.


So you see, with your generous donation you're not just helping Highway 2 Heal cover the logistics and costs of cycling across country, but you're giving others like myself and Eliya a chance to experience the joy of Camp Kesem and find hope in their lives again.

Can you support me with $.01 per mile?
That's just a penny per mile or $34.22 for the entire trip!

I can't thank you enough for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to get on the road, connect with people and show what a positive impact one man and his bike can have. 

It takes a village.

Thank you in advance!

Am I coming through your city? Let me know!

Go check out my route and get some more background:
www.highway2heal.com 

Follow me on the road via social media:
Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @highway2heal
www.youtube.com/c/highway2heal.com 


NOTE: BEGINNING FEBRUARY 10, 2021, 80% OF ALL DONATIONS HERE GO TOWARDS CAMP KESEM.  20% WILL GO TOWARDS HIGHWAY 2 HEAL AND THE LOGISTICS OF THE ROAD TRIP .

YOU CAN DONATE ON VENMO OR PAYPAL  IF THAT IS MORE TO YOUR LIKING!
OR, HELP OUT WITH PURCHASING ITEMS FROM OUR WISH LIST ON AMAZON! 

DIRECT FUNDRAISING FOR CAMP KESEM WILL BEGIN IN JUNE VIA ANOTHER PLATFORM!