By KLINT SPILLER

kspiller@dailynews.net

OSBORNE -- Bike riders traveling across the United States passed through Hill City and Osborne from Saturday to Monday.

The cyclists are participating in the fourth annual Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure, which takes them from Seattle to Washington to raise awareness and funds for the Fuller Center for Housing, a nonprofit organization working to provide adequate shelter for people in need worldwide.

In previous years, the Bicycle Adventure has taken them from San Diego to Savannah, Ga., and also north-to-south across the country.

"It is a pretty simple goal, but it is audacious: to eliminate poverty housing from the face of the Earth," said Scott Umstattd, communications director of the Bike Adventure.

The cyclists will proceed 93 miles from Osborne to Clay Center today before arriving in Kansas City by the end of the week.

Though not all of the riders are participating in the complete 10-week, cross-country trek, 21 riders from across the United States are committed to traveling the entire way -- 3,600 miles. Some simply ride along with them for portions of the trip.

Each cyclist is responsible for raising a dollar per mile traveled, so if a rider is traveling the entire way, the rider would raise $3,600.

"You get to see the country in a whole different way," said Allen Slabaugh of Americus, Ga. "You aren't traveling by interstate. You are going by back roads through small towns and meeting extraordinary people."

Slabaugh said the riders raise money individually prior to the trip by talking to friends, family and community members. However, they also raise funds along the way by talking to people across the country about their cause.

So far, Slabaugh said the organization has raised nearly $150,000 this summer.

"Us being able to raise that money has helped the Fuller Center headquarters to be able to send out money overseas and to cities in the U.S. that badly need it," Slabaugh said.

On average, the cyclists travel 70 to 90 miles per day, taking Sundays off. They stay at churches and other shelters along the way.

Umstattd said the riders enjoyed their stay in Hill City and Osborne. In Hill City, Umstattd said church members took cyclists back to their homes for dinner.

"We got a chance to get to know the members of the community a little bit better, and it helped serve our purpose, which is to raise awareness and raise funds," Umstattd said. "If a family gets a chance to spend a couple hours one-on-one, you can build up a little bit more of a friendship and trust rather than when you give a presentation."

Umstattd described the Fuller Center's housing program not as a handout but a hand-up.

People who participate in the Fuller Center's housing program pay back an affordable no-profit, no-interest mortgage and agree to build up 300 to 500 hours of "sweat equity," which means they help with the construction or remodeling of their home and other Fuller Center projects.