ANDERSON, S.C. - Incoming freshman Thomas Garrigan, who will compete for the Trojans in cross country and track and field, gave a fresh meaning to the term cross country this summer, as he and his two older brothers completed their bicycling trek across the United States by arriving at Folly Beach just south of Charleston, S.C., this past Monday.
The idea originated from Garrigan's older brother Dave after listening to their father tell stories about a similar trip he took as a college student.
After his brother Dave made up his mind to bike across the country, Thomas and his other brother Paul decided to join in on the adventure. The trio began their journey in June in Medford, Ore., making their way through cities such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Nashville, Clemson and Greenville, before completing their trip in Charleston after logging more than 4,000 miles and setting foot in 12 states over a 59-day span.
The band of brothers is more than halfway toward their goal of raising $10,000 for the Foundation for Fighting Blindness and creating awareness of the degenerative eye disease (Ushers Syndome II), which slowly deteriorates peripheral vision and continues until near blindness, which they chose as a cause because their father suffers from the condition.
Thomas is a graduate of Riverside High School in Greer, S.C., and was a member of the Warriors' 2013 4x8 state qualifying team that placed eighth at the state championships.
