YAKIMA -- Jerry Kobes is one of more than 200 cyclists biking from Seattle and will end in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The event goes for 9 weeks and runs from June 30th to August 30th. Riders from around the country called on their friends, family and local businesses to sponsor their participation.

So far they have collected over $1,000,000.

Their goal is to reach $1.5 million.

The funds will be used in both the U.S. and other countries in Africa.

Some of the money will be used to help train people in agriculture and to provide loans for small businesses in lower-income communities.