With each turn of their tires, three men are riding closer to a cure for a crippling disease.

Tad and Eric Stoorza, along with their friend, Chris Michalowski, pedaled into Fremont Thursday on a nationwide bike trip to raise money for the research of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

The trio started their trip in Gunnison, Colo., where Tad Stoorza and Michalowski attend college. They plan to trek across the country to the Atlantic Ocean.

The ride was inspired by Colin Kelley, a friend and neighbor of the Stoorza brothers who suffered from the disease and died March 1.

The money they raise goes to the organization Kelley suggested, Project ALS in New York City. The group is searching for a cure for ALS.

"A lot of (the money) is from back in our home town. My mom sent out almost 1,000 letters to people asking for donations," Tad said. "Actually that's been going really well."

People can donate any amount they wish

"Some people donate a penny a mile," Tad said.

"So we take the long way," Michalowski added.

When they reached Fremont, they already had biked 780 miles. The entire trip will take about 2,800 miles, and they plan to make the journey in 30 days. Thursday's leg, which started in York, was 95 miles.

Tad said biking across the country was something he had always wanted to do.

The brothers had biked a little before.

"We did ride a few years ago with our youth group from New York to Maine, but it was only 300 miles - just a quickie," Eric said.

The trio takes a break about every 30 miles, which equates to about two stops a day. Other times they stop to fix problems with their bikes, mostly flat tires.

"I would like to point out the fact that (Tad) has had six and I haven't had any," Michalowski said.

Most of the money to cover the trip's expense is coming out of their own pockets, but they do have some assistance.

"Some of the people who are sponsoring us said they wanted the money to go specifically to us to get across the country," Eric said.

In addition, the owner of the Best Western in the Stoorzas' hometown, Sarnac Lake, N.Y., gave them letters so any hotel in the chain would put them up for the night.

For the most part, Tax said, they have stayed at Best Westerns. But in towns where there aren't any, other hotels, like the Fremont Super 8, have been generous enough to let them stay for free.

Michalowski said there was one night the bikers didn't spend in a hotel.

"We camped out in the city park in Akron, Colo., and the people cruised by a lot in their cars because there's nothing to do there," he said. "So that was entertaining. That was the highlight of the trip for me this far."

The open highways they travel can lead to a little boredom.

"I bought headphones and a CD player after the third day," Michalowski said. "I got bored staring at the road."

However, the group has found several very inventive ways to curb the boredom of the empty road.

"We wave at truckers, train engineers, bikers and delivery people," Eric said.

"Anyone who will look at us," Michalowski added.

"We also count road kill," Michalowski said. "I think we're up to about 5 million dead raccoons."