River Edge Man Bikes a Million-Plus Miles for Charities

This story was reported and written by Alana Quartuccio. 

There’s truly no place too far for Freddie Hoffman to go.

The River Edge man has spent most of his life traveling the country. Not by car or in a tour van, but on his bicycle.

To date he has traveled 1.4 million miles and has reached all 48 states.  He does it to raise money for a variety of charities and has raised $1 million to date. Distance wise it's as though he's been to the moon and back, twice.

Hoffman, 54, who was left with brain damage at birth due to a then-uncommon cesarean procedure which cut oxygen to his brain, never goes anywhere without his bicycle.  Just recently he took an important trip just a few miles away to the next town over to meet Paramus Mayor Richard LaBarbiera.

Hoffman says he had read so much about the mayor and what he does for the community it inspired him to go out and meet him.

Touched by his story, LaBarbiera invited him to the Paramus council meeting Tuesday where he presented him with a certificate of commendation as he gears up to take his 35th ride across the country. 

“Freddie does not have a support team. He does not have a van that follows him. He has four suitcases attached to his front wheel and his back wheel.  It’s truly an amazing story, a story that one day might be in movies,” said LaBarbiera.

Hoffman says he grew up during a time when being different wasn’t so easily accepted. His parents stuck by him always and he them.

Among the charities he supports is Boys Town which is very important to his father. “My father sent $40 to them every year,” he recalls. In honor of his mother he raises funds for leukemia, which his mother died from in 1986.

Hoffman says he plans to be on the road until October but it’s hard to tell exactly when he will be back.

“Travelling by bicycle is very unpredictable. Almost impossible to gage how long it’s going to take you even if you have done it before,” says Hoffman.  “Everything affects a bike rider. Weather, shift in wind or if I hit a detour or road closure.”

Hoffman is his own support crew out on the road with his bicycle. He takes along emergency items like spare tools and first aid kits. Along the way he stays at Mom and Pop motels or friends.

Hoffman points to his bike helmet which has a tiny camera attached to it which he plans to try out while on the road this time. He’s taken countless pictures over the years and logs all his travels and then some.

In fact he’s been keeping a diary since he was 7 years old and has never missed a day.

“Freddy has many challenges but it’s amazing the difference one individual can make,” said LaBarbiera.

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