WATCH ABOVE: Matt Stoltz has been cycling to every baseball stadium on the continent since the season opener in April. He stopped in at Toronto’s Rogers Centre to speak with Lama Nicolas.
TORONTO — One baseball fan is going the extra mile, literally, to raise money and awareness for charity.
Matt Stoltz, 22, is in the midst of a massive bike ride to all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums across North America.
It’s a solo ride he estimates will take him about six months — at a total of 18,000 km — for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Milwaukee and Biking for Baseball.
“Big Brothers and Big Sisters is a great organization that can really get people involved, to really change the lives of youth,” said Stoltz.
“As a mentor you can really spend a few times a month and you can make a huge difference in the lives of youth.”
The Milwaukee native has already raised more than $20,000 US, after starting his trip during opening day in Seattle on April 6.
“I’m a huge baseball fan, I grew up around the game and it was always on my bucket list to see all 30 ballparks. And baseball’s really tied in with mentoring, from playing catch in the backyard with your dad, to going to your first game with peanuts and Cracker Jacks,” he said.
“It’s really an important part of a life of a kid and why not incorporate mentoring and getting people involved as a mentor into this trip.”
Stoltz said it can be lonely on the road at times, but he takes solace in the great people he’s met along the way.
“There’s a whole lot of different challenges that come up, some you can prepare for and some you can’t,” he said.
“I’m out there by myself for days at a time, I camp on the side of the road often, I sing a lot of songs to myself — but you do also get to meet a lot of amazing people from all parts of the country, all parts of the continent.”
Stoltz asked people on his website to host him for different legs of the journey, adding he “probably won’t smell very good” and “a warm meal is not required, but of course it won’t be turned down.”
The highlight of his trip? Inspiring others to work with children and getting the chance to step onto the field at some of his favourite stadiums.
“I threw out the first pitch in a couple of ballparks,” he said. “It’s the closest I’ll ever get to being a major leaguer.”
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