Oregon State University alumnus Scott Rowley (on right) and his friend Sammy Carlson have organized a 1,000-mile bicycling trip to promote and raise funds for autism awareness.

Oregon State University alumnus Scott Rowley and his friend Sammy Carlson have organized a 1,000-mile cycling trip to promote and raise funds for autism awareness.

The trip, titled Hood River 2 Ogden or H2O, will take place from July 8-18 and will start in Hood River and end in Ogden, Utah. The team has begun raising funds for the cause, all of which will support Talk About Curing Autism, a national nonprofit that provides information, resources, and support to families affected by autism.

Rowley and Carlson’s goal is to raise $25,000.

“This endeavor has been motivated by a strong desire to do something big for our community, and help families affected by autism in the state of Oregon,” Rowley and Carlson said in a written statement.

“All of our proceeds will help to establish a chapter of their (TACA) organization in Oregon and continue helping families affected by this disorder.”

Talk About Curing Autism specializes in education for families affected by autism. Autism is a national crisis impacting one in 91 individuals in the United States. Beginning in 2007, TACA expanded its services in an effort to assist more than 16,000 families.

Rowley graduated from OSU in spring 2010 with a degree in business administration and options in entrepreneurship and international business. Carlson is a professional ski athlete and three-time X-Games medalist in freestyle skiing.

For more information or to donate, visit http://www.tacah2o.com