By Melyssa Allen

While the drive between Raleigh, N.C., and Wilmington, N.C., typically takes about two hours, Meredith College alumna Christine Laughlin Hughes, '98, is planning a trip that will take considerably longer.

On June 30, 2007, Hughes and a group of volunteers are going to make the trip from North Carolina's capital to its coast on scooters, as part of their "Scoot to the Sea for V" fundraiser. The ride's purpose is to raise money and awareness for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The fundraiser was the idea of Hughes's husband and brother-in-law, and one of their friends.

"I thought they were kidding at first--after all, scooters only go about 35 miles per hour--and it's a 130 or so mile trip," said Hughes. "But the more they talked about it, I could tell they were really excited about it and really wanted to do it."

Hughes, who manages the long range planning sectionin the City of Wilmington Planning Division and serves as the coordinator of Meredith's Wilmington Alumnae Chapter, is organizing the fundraiser.

"Every one of us has been touched in some way by cancer," Hughes said. "My mother is a breast cancer survivor and my husband and I both lost grandmothers to cancer...I am hopeful that one day, we can cure cancer. Every small thing we do helps."

Riders will collect donations, which will be contributed to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. They have set a goal of raising $2,000, and hope to make this an annual event.

"We expect about a dozen scooter riders," Hughes said. "We are hopeful that our first effort will be successful and that we will be able tobuild on the success to make it an annual event."

Why ride scooters? Hughes said she "married into a scooter loving family."

"The love of scooters has spread. Now even my mother has a scooter! Scooting is fun--everyone who rides one is hooked," she explains.

With high gas prices making news this summer, Hughes feels the "Scoot to the Sea for V"event will have a secondary purpose.

"[Scooters are] economical and have a lesser environmental impact than cars," Hughes said. "My scooter gets about 100 miles pergallon, so it's perfect for getting around town. This is a perfect opportunity to raise awareness for The V Foundation and to promote transportation alternatives at the same time."

Riders in the "Scoot to the Sea for V" will leave from NC State's Reynolds Coliseum on June 30 at 8 a.m.

Visit www.scoottothesea.com to learn how to participate or to donate toward the "Scoot to the Sea for V" fundraiser.