Sara Garcia’s route to change the world took an unplanned detour, but being critically injured in a training ride didn’t deter her mission to spotlight the scourge of human trafficking.
Garcia is one of 10 members making up the 2023 team for Pedal the Pacific where the motto is “cycling for a world where people aren’t for sale.”
She had to miss most of this summer’s ride, but surprised her teammates by showing up in Lompoc on Monday night, as they erupted with shock, excitement and tears before she shared her story of why she joined the fight against sex and labor trafficking.
Around her 20th birthday, the 22 year old said she decided to shave her head to donate her hair and raise money for cancer research.
“It was at that point and time when I realized that you don’t need to be a 70-year-old white millionaire to create a positive change in your community,” she said.
“All it takes is conviction and a power to want to change the world.”
Garcia vowed to do something each year of her 20s for others. She learned about Pedal the Pacific and decided to join the team.
“Every person cycling, every person sitting, every person outside of Lompoc and every person in the world has the power to create and effect positive change in the community,” Garcia said.
Another rider, Emma Warner, grew up being told she could fall prey to human traffickers although she has since learned they target vulnerable people such as foster children and runaways.
“That’s really where my why comes down to is that I know this is not something that can happen to me so therefore I should use whatever knowledge I have to make noise about this issue that is not talked about,” Warner said.
The 10 college-age women cycling the West Coast for Pedal the Pacific’s seventh year come from multiple states. The route, which began in Seattle, spans 1,700 miles by the time it ends in San Diego.
They spent time Monday touring Vandenberg Space Force Base, before joining approximately 100 people gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn on Monday to support Pedal the Pacific participants during an event hosted by Lompoc-Vandenberg Branch of American Association of University Women and the North County Rape Crisis & Child Protection Center.
Those in attendance included local, state and national lawmakers or their representatives to present certificates and other recognition to the participants.
“What these incredible women are doing by highlighting this issue and translating it into a really meaningful way is profound and important,” said Assemblyman Gregg Hart, D-Santa Barbara.
“You’re doing hard work to talk about a very difficult topic,” Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne said. “You’ve also opened the door as advocates to people that may not have a voice and that’s important to me personally as one female to another.”
The Lompoc Loves Pedal the Pacific reception included several surprises.
In addition to the hush-hush arrival of Garcia, the night also included a birthday cake to celebrate one rider’s 21st birthday. The Lompoc Rotary Club also provided a donation to Pedal the Pacific.
The riders presented a $5,000 grant to the Rape Crisis Center.
The team continued to Santa Barbara where the highlight of the visit is a Thursday roundtable discussion with the Santa Barbara County Human Trafficking Task Force, led by District Attorney John Savrnoch and Megan Rheinschild, director of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program.
The riders are staying with several host families from All Saints By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Montecito, with support from ExxonMobil, Junior League of Santa Barbara, Kyle’s Kitchen, Lotusland, Noozhawk, Parker Clay, the Santa Barbara Club, Velo Pro Cyclery and art educator Sondra Weiss.
Riders had raised $95,000 as of Monday, but hoped to reach $140,000 to push Pedal the Pacific’s total fundraising over $1 million, leading to an impromptu auction of donated Allan Hancock College wines to collect $650 more toward the goal.
The March 15 accident left Garcia with a traumatic brain injury, cranial fracture, fractured vertebrae, fractured shoulder blade and more. Surgical procedures removed her spleen and part of her pancreas. She received a skin grafting on her forehead and elbow debridement surgery.
Finally reunited with her team, she declared she was doing “phenomenally even better now that I’m here.”
Garcia will join the team in their van for the final two weeks to provide much-needed help with bike maintenance and support. She looks forward to crossing the finish line with them.
“We can all change the world,” she said.