Former Marine crossing nation on elliptical bike

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — A 71-year-old former Marine is setting out in an unusual manner to raise money for injured and ill veterans and their families.

Rick Hermelin leaves from the Parris Island Marine Corps Recruiting Depot on Friday to make his way across the nation on an elliptical bicycle.

That’s a bicycle with small wheels and no seat which riders power by pushing up and down with their feet on levers like an elliptical bike in a gym. The technique is more like jogging than bicycle riding.

Hermelin hopes to make it to the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego in 100 days. He wants to raise $1,000 for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.