Brent Bundy is a man in motion.

For the past six years and for a cause that began on and off since he was 36 years old, Bundy, now 50, has pedaled his bicycle from Oregon across country to Staten Island, New York. His purpose has been to bring attention to cancer awareness in memory of a high school friend of his named Gina who died from breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 34.

Last week, Bundy was riding his bike along Route 209 between Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe when he was struck by a large piece of ice that flew off a passing vehicle. He was treated and released from St. Luke’s Gnaden Huetten Campus in Lehighton.

“I’m scheduled for an MRI and seeing a spine specialist before I’ll be on my way again to Staten Island,” he said.

Bundy has certainly had his fair share of calamities. In 1997 he was in a car accident and broke his neck. In 2012, he was struck by a car while biking through Davenport, Iowa. A year later, in Omaha, Nebraska, his bike hit an edge in the road, causing him to fall off and strike a passing car. He couldn’t walk for a few days after that.

“I hurt my shoulder real bad, too,” he said. “It still hurts from that accident, and now with this one, it’s even worse.”

Bundy’s trip across country is carefully planned. He travels through the Midwest, where the roads are flat for easier pedaling. He’ll ride 10 miles an hour, and between 50 to 120 miles a day, depending upon weather and road conditions. He figures he travels 3,500 miles each trip and has ridden his bike 20,000 miles overall.

“I’ve pedaled in negative degree weather that was so cold, my handlebar mirror cracked. I’ve also come upon 40-mile-an-hour wind that I had to walk my bike through.”

After his initial journey when, as he put it, he “shot from the hip,” he now has stopping points with friends he has made so he can rest a night or two.

“The best thing about my trips is the wonderful people I have met along the way. I have about 30 contacts through all the states.”

Bundy rides a pink hybrid mountain/road bike. He wears a pink helmet with the name “Gina” printed across the front and a sign attached to the back of his bike that allows drivers to see his purpose. He took up his cancer awareness journey after he had reflected for some time about breaking his neck.

“I could either lay down and die or do something with my life, so I got on my bike for Gina.”

Bundy’s favorite state of the 11 he rides through is Pennsylvania, which he says is also the most difficult.

“Pennsylvania is beautiful, but many of the roads are uphill. I use all of my 24 gears on my bike, but pedaling up steep, hilly roads can make me feel like a hamster on a wheel.”

In each of the past few years, Bundy has said that the upcoming trip will be his last. His mother, sister and two brothers fear for his safety, and the track record proves their concerns are valid.

“I’ll have to stop one day,” he said, “but memories of the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had will stay with me forever.”