A retired Gaston County police officer is biking more than 4,000 miles across the country with a purpose - bringing awareness about mental health and suicide among first responders.
Chris Lowrance’s journey started a month ago.
On May 2, he started the trip with a plane ride to Portland, Oregon. After a quick stop nearby in Astoria - he was on his way.
Currently, he’s in Idaho.
“Initially it was for me to have a reset after law enforcement, but I realized it was bigger than me,” said Lowrance.
Lowrance says his late father-in-law was his motivation to keep cycling. As far as this TransAmerica trek, his wife was the final push he needed.
“What I do, if it touches one police officer, one firefighter, EMS or dispatcher, that keeps them from making the decision of doing something to themselves, then this 4,700-mile journey of mine has been worth it,” Lowrance said.