Kristi Mahy, a 2008 environmental science graduate, and three like-minded environmental activists want your attention. In fact, they want millions of people from Guelph to Vancouver, down the west coast of the United States and south as far as Costa Rica to take notice of their plan to promote sustainable living.

As soon as Garrett Gauthier picks up his U of G degree in June, he and Mahy will join Justin Pape, a 2008 graduate in landscape architecture, and Viera Linderova on a one-year cycling odyssey covering 16,100 kilometres through nine countries.

They’re starting at a sustainability demonstration home in Guelph called the Onean Project and will end up at a biological reserve near Puntarenas, Costa Rica. They plan to visit and recognize people practising sustainable livelihoods and to convince a skeptical public that sustainability is feasible.

“We want to show that, no matter where you live, you can make meaningful contributions to planetary health,” says Mahy. “We aim to weave a network along our route connecting individuals, families, communities and organizations that demonstrate successful sustainable and socially conscious living initiatives.”

Hoping to share information and resources, the four cyclists will blog, post photos and try to attract media attention. To follow their journey, visit www.pedalacrosstheamericas.com. Use the website to contact them if you live on their 16,000-kilometre route and would like to share your own story of sustainable living.