Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) -Jeff Bekos, a devoted father, is taking on a monumental challenge: cycling 4,000 miles across the country to raise awareness and funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities. His mission stems from a situation ten years ago when his daughter Hailey was treated at a Philadelphia hospital for a rare auto-immune disease.

During Hailey’s battle, which left her in a coma as her brain began to shut down, Bekos stayed nearby at the Ronald McDonald House for 254 nights. Bekos said he’s grateful for the support the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House gave him, and it allowed his family to be near the hospital and available within minutes to be at Hailey’s bedside. At the time, the Bekos family home was over an hour away from the hospital.

Today, Hailey has recovered, and Bekos is pedaling with a purpose. Riding 65 miles per day, six days a week, he aims to raise $5 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities. The funds will help support more than 250,000 families who rely on RMHC accommodations while their children receive medical care.

At Ronald McDonald House locations, families receive lodging, meals and access to fully stocked laundry facilities. Bekos said McDonalds is an amazing partner and provides about five percent of a house’s operating budget, but it’s up to the community to raise the rest. He is encouraging people to not only donate, but also volunteer at a local Ronald McDonald House location.

Bekos’ journey brought him to the Springfield Ronald McDonald House on North Seventh Street on Wednesday afternoon. He will stop at a total of 26 Ronald McDonald House locations before arriving in Philadelphia by Oct. 14.

His ride has already inspired donations from across the country, and he hopes his story will encourage others to contribute to the mission. Donations can be made at onedadsmission.org, where funds can be designated specifically for the Springfield Ronald McDonald House.