TULSA, Okla. — A helmet, backpack and some doughnuts are all Ingrid Moncuit is carrying with her on her cross country trip in the U.S. to raise awareness for a mission close to her heart.
The French woman is doing it all on a footbike, which is catching people's eye on the road.
"I made this crazy challenge... to raise funds and promote it," says Moncuit.
She is taking on Route 66 from east to west coast, where she is stopping in different cities along the way.
Her latest stop is Tulsa right before Thanksgiving. The journey started the second week of November in Chicago, where she went through the elements, including snow.
"Two days after the beginning if was so cold, I was frozen in my trotbike. I stopped because it was really dangerous," says Moncuit.
The harsh weather hasn't stopped her though. She says her ultimate mission is worth it.
"I work on new medical equipment for children in hospitals," says Moncuit, "I decided to create new clothes with colors, bright colors and printed."
The idea is to bring awareness of "Tik & Dik," a surgical kit for children she developed in her home country, which includes a colorful hospital gown, a bracelet and a children's book.
The goal is to try and make a surgery less scary for kids. She came up with the idea after her years teaching in elementary school and seeing first-hand how surgeries can affect young children.
"I hope that with all the contacts I have in the United States with these hospitals, I hope to work with them," says Moncuit.
She says she already has partnered with a hospital in the French Riviera to start with 100 kits once she returns to France, but she is doing the Route 66 challenge to hopefully bring the concept to the U.S. in the future.
Part of her journey on the Mother Road is staying with host families along the way, such as the Glenn family, members of the Alliance Francaise de Tulsa.
"We specifically chose because we live right next to Route 66, and also because of the French connection. That friendship alone is a very good example of what Alliance Francaise does in our community," says Judy Glenn.
The Alliance is a group that promotes the "French language and culture through programs in education and the arts."
Moncuit says making connections and new friendships is an enjoyable part of her trip. She hopes to continue finding friendly faces along the cities she'll be stopping after Tulsa.
Normally, she sets out on her trip early in the morning and bikes about six to seven hours a day before stopping to sleep. This adventure-seeker estimates her end destination in California could take a couple of more months.
Next, she is planning on stopping in Arcadia, Oklahoma at Pops 66 Soda Ranch.
You can follow Moncuit's journey on Facebook.
She also started a Go Fund Me page to help reach her goal of $33,000 to fund the kits.
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