Meet the Revolutions for Relief Team

Kellen Smetana

Age: 25    Hometown: Novi, MI
Consultant, Deloitte Consulting
University of Michigan, Economics & French
Nicknames: Cream (flip to “smetana” in a Polish-English dictionary); K-Fed; Special K; K2; Big Tom Callahan

I am a 25 year-old consultant from Detroit with a penchant for adventure and passion for travel.  Summer trips with the family in my formative years took me through 44 states, and I’ve amassed countless stories backpacking through Europe, Asia, and South America with friends.  But this will be my first truly long distance cycling tour and the first time I focus my love of travel and habit of attempting ridiculous feats of human endurance to the benefit of helping others.

I hatched the plan for Revolutions for Relief about a year ago as an adventurous service endeavor before returning to business school and convinced the worthy gentlemen below to join the expedition.  Coming from Michigan, I enjoy playing hockey and just about any endurance sport.  Yes, that includes cycling!  I eat a ton (my roommate makes fun of my Jethro Bodine knack for eating pasta dinners out of our salad serving bowls…) and plan on using 16,000 km of cycling to build up the appetite to give Joey Chestnut a run for his money.

Barring the persuasion of Ben to continue beyond Asia, I will be the only team member crossing the full Eurasian landmass.  While away I will miss the Red Wings playoff run, the start of an exciting new Michigan football season, and, of course, my friends and family!  That said, I am very excited to try my hand at new languages, live for six months with only the 60 lbs on my bike, and see how impactful we can be for the World Bicycle Relief.

Ben Youngriev

Age: 19    Hometown: East London, England
Student
York University, Politics and International Relations
Nicknames: Big Ben, The Hand

I'm 19 years old and hail from the dreary suburbs of East London, England. This is the first year I've not been in education since I was 4 years old, so I've decided to spend it cycling to places I've always wanted to explore until I return to England to start university.

At home my life spent out of the house usually just consists of pubs, gigs, festivals, friends and cycling around in the summer to local forests and parks. I'm not a hugely active person - I'm pretty lazy to be perfectly honest - so cycle touring is an exciting contrast to normal life for me.

In the summer of 2010 I cycled from London to Croatia and back, and in 2011 I am cycling from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to as close to home as time constraints and my sanity allow. I will be partnering with Kellen from Hong Kong until I depart for home, most likely Turkey or Georgia.

Cory Smetana

Age: 20    Hometown: Novi, MI
Student
Michigan State University, Civil Engineering
Nicknames: Core, Sims, C. Smet, Crème de la Crème, Cory Matthews

I am a 20 year old from Novi, Michigan, and will be starting my junior year at Michigan State University this fall (Go Green).  Those same family vacations Kellen mentioned have broadened my interest in traveling and exploring new territories.  It’s funny to think that my first international trip (Canada doesn’t count) will take me halfway around the world to the middle of Central Asia.  This will be a new experience for me and a bit of a culture shock, but I’m anxious to hop on the saddle for the benefit of others.

I have been on Michigan State’s crew team for two years.  Rowing has continued my competitive nature from high school, where I played hockey and ran cross-country and track.  Along with my brother, I too enjoy endurance sports, especially cycling (it’s too bad we won’t be traveling through France in the month of July).

Throughout high school I took advantage of numerous service opportunities including the Appalachia Service Project, where we would travel to the southern Appalachian region to help fix homes of those less fortunate than us.  The working conditions were tough, but nothing was better than the “thank you” and grace we got in return.  On this trip I’m hoping to obtain the same feeling from the World Bicycle Relief as I did with ASP.  I’m excited to dabble in all the new languages, food, and spirits as I join my brother on this incredible journey.  I will be missing and thinking of all my friends and family back home.  I’ll be back soon – I promise!

Theodore Brun

Age: 34    Hometown: Norfolk, England
Cambridge University, Archaeology and History
Nicknames: Theo, Teodor, TB

I am a 34 year old ex-lawyer who finally managed to escape the law on my third attempt in order to turn my attention to more important things like cycling across the world.

I come from Norfolk, England and am the middle of three brothers, all farmer's sons. I was educated at Eton and then Cambridge where I specialized in archaeology and history.  After university I retrained as a solicitor and worked with Clifford Chance LLP in London and Moscow, and then specialized in international arbitration with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Paris. More recently I worked as legal counsel for a biotech company in Hong Kong, where my cycling journey started.

I speak French, Russian, and Chinese badly, but well enough for this trip. I love epic novels, photography, and (fortunately) cycling. When I get home I intend to solicit a free pint from my old local pub in Cambridge and pursue a career in writing.

Bill Conry

Age: 26    Hometown: Bala Cynwyd, PA
University of Michigan, Economics
Nicknames:  BCon, Bilbo Baggins, Phil Dunphy

I am a 26-year-old suburban Philadelphia native, currently working for a research and advisory firm in the wonderful city of Chicago.  I’ve long had an appetite for travel, adventure, spontaneity and service, and am stoked to be part of the Revolutions for Relief team for the European leg!

I studied abroad in Florence, Italy five years ago and was able to visit only a fraction of the gorgeous, culturally rich cities Europe has to offer; can’t wait to check an additional couple hundred or so off my list!  I enjoy meeting new people from diverse backgrounds and learning about the ways they live – whether that be at the Great Wall of China, in a small town in Ireland, or on one of the countless college football road trips in which I’ve partaken.

I have participated in a wide range of athletics in my lifetime: soccer, lacrosse, squash, ultimate frisbee, softball, and kickball to name a few, however I have admittedly not done much competitive or endurance cycling (my 6th grade cub scout bike hike is the exception).  I enjoy taking risks, just ask those who watched me convince my team to gamble with all our winnings by opting for the video bonus question on a nationally televised episode of Cash Cab.  I am thrilled to take the leap of faith with this trip and see what's out there on the road!

Megan Melcher

Age: 26
University of Michigan: Psychology and Criminal Justice  
Hometown: Chicago, IL, Madison, WI, Frederick, MD, Pittsburgh, PA...I can't choose
Nicknames: Meggo, Meggie, Melch, 'Go

I'm a 26 year old attorney living in Washington DC and hoping to pursue a career in child advocacy.  When Kellen first approached me regarding this trip, I thought he was a little insane, but I quickly became obsessed with the prospect of joining him.  As much as I have been enjoying the glamorous life of temporary legal work, a month away from the monotonous days of a doc reviewer is a much needed change. 

I have always had a passion for travel. My time spent studying abroad in London and Sydney has made me eager for new adventures.  I figure, why not take on Europe on a bike?! I played my fair share of sports growing up but it wasn't until two years ago, when I began competeing in triathlons, did my interest in biking arise. I thrive off of a good challenge and I'm pretty sure I'm about to embark my my biggest one yet.   

I am excited to join the Revolutions for Relief team and the World Bicycle Relief in helping to raise awareness for communities in need of transportation. I can only hope the impact we have on the people we meet will match the impact I know this trip will have on me.  Those of you who know Kellen understand how joining him on a simple trip to the grocery store or even walking across the street can turn into a ridiculous affair.  I am beyond excited to see what experiences are in store as I ride from Istanbul to Venice!