Hey Hey Bike and Builders! My name is Anna Bruno, I'm 21-years old, and I am finishing up my senior year at University of Delaware. I’ve spent the past 4 years studying Biochemistry, but am looking forward to trying something new. I’m applying to enter an accelerated nursing school in the fall hopefully to pursue a career in Pediatric Oncology in the future
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been incredibly active. I started playing organized sports when I was three, and haven’t stopped since. In high school, I was a member of a team sport every possible season. The majority of my time was spent playing soccer and field hockey, but I never hesitated to try something new. My love for sports did not end when I came to college. I decided to really branch out and joined the Women’s rugby team. Over the past 4 years I have served as the secretary, then as the president, and traveled with the team to compete in D1 nationals. I guess you could say I caught the rugby bug, because after all this time I can’t imagine being a part of a greater team (Shout out to my UDWRFC girls!!!).
I heard about Bike and Build during my sophomore year from a teammate of mine on the rugby team whose brother was about to venture out on the Southern U.S. route. From the moment she told me about the trip, I have been absolutely obsessed with the idea of participating in this program for myself. So here I am, a whopping three years later, lucky enough to have the opportunity to complete this challenge. In fact, as luck would have it, the very teammate who introduced me to Bike and Build will be traveling to Santa Barbara with me!!
I chose to be a part of Bike and Build not only to assist in local Affordable Housing causes, but also to have the opportunity to spread awareness about the Affordable Housing issues that some people might not be aware of. I was born in State College, PA but moved to Northern Virginia when I was very young and have lived there the majority of my life. Living in such close proximity to D.C. has allowed me to see some of the housing problems that plague our country. The hardships that many Americans face and the fact that not everybody has a safe and stable place to live is just unfair. I’ve always had the belief that those who can help, should help. I am lucky to have whole summer after graduating college free to volunteer, and what better way to do that than Bike and Build? I have volunteered for many causes, including Make-a-Wish and Relay for Life, but am excited to dive into the world of Affordable Housing.
Having lived on the east coast my entire life, I haven’t had that much of an opportunity to explore our great country. I can count on one hand the number of times I have left the coast, so I am incredibly excited to experience all that America has to offer. The aspect of this trip that excites me the most is the unique opportunity to interact with such a diverse population of people. From the members of the group that I will be riding with every day, to the individuals we meet along the way, I cannot wait to socialize with them and learn everything they have to teach me. The immense physical and mental challenge that Bike and Build presents is daunting to say the least. I have very little experience with long distance cycling, so those 100+ mile days might be a struggle. However, the people who will benefit from our efforts, and the opportunity to have the trip of a lifetime with some awesome people makes it all worthwhile so LETS GO!
