Navy Veteran Christian Crifasi biked 3,442-miles across the U.S. over 88 days, raising awareness and funds for the charity CreatiVets.
Christian Crifasi grew up in the small town of Coleridge, North Carolina, and desired to serve in the military from a young age. After graduating from Eastern Randolph High School, he met with recruiters and decided that joining the Navy was the right path for him. Crifasi then attended Catawba College to study business administration with a concentration in economics. While in college, he ran cross country and looked forward to his future in the Navy. In 2013, he graduated and then attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He received a commission in November of that year.
Crifasi served his first tour from July 2014 to August 2016 aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). In 2018, he went on to serve as a Supply Corps Officer at the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center San Diego. At this time, he established a scholarship at his alma mater for students who wished to pursue a career in the military after college. Eventually, while stationed aboard USS Somerset (LPD 25), Crifasi worked his way to the rank of lieutenant. He separated from active duty after nearly seven years of service and received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal during a farewell ceremony.
While preparing to separate, Crifasi began planning a biking trip across the country, which was one of his life goals. Though he felt excited to see the expanse of the United States, he also wanted to make the purpose of his journey meaningful.
In February 2020, Crifasi connected with CreatiVets, a nonprofit that empowers wounded Veterans to heal through art and music. CreatiVets agreed to work with him and he began preparing for his charity cycle to raise funds. All donations from the trip went to CreatiVets, and Crifasi self-funded his trip.
On May 2 , 2020, Crifasi began the 3,442-mile journey from San Diego, California, to New York, New York. Ranging from the wide-open spaces of the West Coast to the dense cities of the East Coast, he was in awe of the diverse landscape and culture he saw. Throughout his journey, he raised awareness of CreatiVets’ mission to the media and to the people he encountered. On July 28, 2020, he arrived at the One World Trade Center in New York City. The trip lasted 88 days total, 60 of which he spent cycling. By the end of his trip, Crifasi exceeded his fundraising goal and had raised a total of $5,445 for CreatiVets.
Crifasi is currently working on his Master of Business Administration at Vanderbilt University. He is glad to have taken on such an enormous and rewarding feat, as well as achieving his goal to promote CreatiVets’ work.
We honor his service.
Writer: Lauren Dahler
Editors: Julia Pack, Rachel Falconer
Researcher: Monique Quihuis
Graphic Designer: Grace Yang
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