They biked more than 2,500 miles and raised thousands for their favorite charity

Staying hopeful during the pandemic is challenging for all of us. Yet some South Floridians have gone the extra mile, and even pedaled many miles, to inspire us and make sure our world is a better place.

Two heroes are Miami brothers Axel and Sebastian Hicks, rising seniors at Ransom Everglades School, who biked 2,565 miles to raise donations for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. The two traveled from San Diego to Jacksonville over 35 days in June and July.

They crossed seven state lines, slept in campgrounds and RV parks, endured temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, pedaled through driving rainstorms, fixed numerous flat tires, and eluded dozens of dogs.

They also raised $33,740 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. The teens — who are triplets with sister Hanna — have supported the organization as volunteer mentors for years. A week after their return to Miami, they presented a check to Gale S. Nelson, president and CEO of the organization.

“Axel and Sebastian have shown us the power of our youth,” Nelson said. “What began with their service as mentors led to their coast-to-coast bike ride to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. Their effort will allow us to match 20 waiting list youths with a mentor of their own. We appreciate these young men for going the extra mile for our community.”

The trek was the result of brainstorming a way to support their favorite charity while taking advantage of weeks of unscheduled time in the pandemic. They settled on the cross-country bike ride, an idea proposed by their father, Jeffrey Hicks. Dad agreed to accompany them.

The first step was to buy road bikes. Neither teen had ever ridden competitively or even seriously.

“Before the trip, the cycling I had done was going about a half of a mile to get ice cream,” Sebastian Hicks said.

They trained for about a week with their father by riding some 30 miles a day over long, flat stretches in Miami.

But their first day in California involved cycling 60 miles and climbing 6,000 feet.

“On the first day, we went twice as far as we had ever gone before, and about 600 times more than we had ever gone uphill,” Sebastian said. “It was really difficult.”

That night they fell asleep at 5 p.m. But they said they gradually grew accustomed to being exhausted all of the time, and averaged six hours of cycling and 80 miles per day. They battled poor terrain, headwinds, hills and heat, and met generous people who supplied them with water, travel advice and encouragement.

Through social media they collected more donations than they ever imagined. The support from donors inspired them throughout the trip.

“We were really psyched about that,” Axel said. “Big Brothers Big Sisters is a cause we really believe in. You see some kids who go into the program in desperate situations, and it makes a world of difference for them. It’s pretty cool that we can make such a tangible impact.”

Runner, student writes inspiring book

Pinecrest resident Steven Lazar was just 20 when he started to write his book about embracing and learning from failure. An avid runner, Lazar, now 21, wrote during the summer of his college sophomore year as a full-time student at the University of Central Florida.

His book, “Positively Powerful: Embrace Failure and Other Useful Tips,” took about a year to write.

“My mission of the book is to inspire others to stay positive and look at failure as a stepping stone to success as opposed to a negative stigma,” said Lazar, who will start his junior year this fall.

Running has been his passion since his junior year at Coral Reef Senior High. He graduated high school in 2018, and has since run in the 2019 Miami Half Marathon, and the 2020 Miami Marathon, his first-ever marathon.

“I joined the track and field team and I have done it ever since. It is a way for me to push myself and explore the outdoors. I race a multitude of distances from the 5k all the way up to the marathon.

“The Miami Marathon is the first and only marathon I have run so far and it was an amazing experience. I can’t wait to run Boston when everything goes back to normal,” he said.

Lazar said he hopes his book inspires others to stay upbeat during the pandemic. He is especially hopeful that teens and young adults working on their own personal development find his book helpful. It is available on Amazon.

Kiwanis Club helps 13 charities

The Kiwanis Club of Miami recently donated $140,000 to 13 charities for sports and recreational programs throughout South Florida. They said they did so in true pandemic style — over Zoom.

For the past 21 years the Club has distributed, through its Miami Kiwanis Youth Foundation, about $1.8 million. This year’s total is the largest single year donation in the club’s history.

“We are keenly aware of the challenges that all of us face this year but even more acutely in the charitable community,” said Chuck Little, Kiwanis Club of Miami Treasurer. “We’re blessed to be able to do our part to jump start their efforts to provide the best recreational activities we can for our youth.”

Organizations receiving grants this year include: Homestead YMCA, Junior Orange Bowl Committee, Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs of Miami-Dade, Optimist Foundation of Greater Goulds, Peace Education Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Little Havana Foundation, Good Hope Equestrian Training Center, Children’s Resource Center, Richmond Perrine Optimist Club, the WOW Center, Optimist Club of Ives Estates, Kids for Kids, Inc., and Cutler Ridge Soccer Club.

The Kiwanis Club of Miami will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. For more, call 786-546-3386 or write to chuckbig@bellsouth.net.

Livestream free jazz event

For the 20th anniversary of his father’s death, Tito Puente Jr. and his Latin Jazz Ensemble will present a free virtual performance with rare footage of the music great, Tito Puente (1923-2000).

Special guest vocalist Melina Almodovar will also perform. Global Arts Project and the Collins Park Neighborhood Association are hosting the event 6-7:30 p.m., Sept. 6.

The younger Puente is determined to nurture the musical legacy left by his father.

“He was just too vibrant, too exciting. There was magic in the music my father made. It made people happy all over the world,” he said.

To enjoy, visit http://www.globalartsproject.org/livestream

If you have news for this column, write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com.