ANDERSON — As part of his 4,000-mile cross-country bicycle trek, the Rev. Bruce Overstreet will visit Anderson — he expects it to be on Monday — in an effort to raise money for renovations to a small West African hospital.

His efforts came to fruition when he learned of the high mortality rate during child births in the country of Mali, which Doug Wicks of The Christian & Missionary Alliance said ranks second worst in the world.

As a result, the Plattsburgh, N.Y., native teamed up with Wicks and The Christian & Missionary Alliance to raise donations over the course of his 10-week journey.

Overstreet travels around 100 miles a day, but recently rode as much as 140 miles through the Great Plains without stopping — which he insists is not as flat as it sounds when riding a bike.

Overstreet began bicycling in California on June 2, and will conclude in early August at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. That will only conclude the first leg of his journey, however, as he will then travel to Africa.

From there, he will bike 240 miles from the Mali capital of Barnako and hand deliver all the money raised toward renovating the village hospital in Koutiala.

“That’s the thing, I wouldn’t be doing this if not for the need in the hospital,” said Overstreet from the road. “That is the motivation. We love our kids and we know they love their kids, and we want to do what we can to make sure they have an adequate facility.”

Because of his concern, the reverend began to gather donations and map a route that would allow him to make visits along the way. Indianapolis is included on the list of stops for Overstreet, who has family residing in the area.

In fact, Anderson is plenty familiar to Overstreet and his wife. Her grandfather, Frank Allis, was mayor of the city from 1964 to 1967, according to the Madison County Historical Society. Overstreet said he looks forward to revisiting the town they once frequented regularly.

“I’d love to wave and say hi as we go through Anderson,” Overstreet said. “It’s a nice town and we have some fond memories of being there years ago when her grandmother still lived there on Historic Eighth Street.”

Throughout his journey, Wicks said Overstreet continues to shift focus away from himself and instead to the people he is attempting to relieve.

“When you talk to him you don’t hear about the ride, what you hear about are these people in Mali that need care,” Wicks said. “He’s kind of a small guy, but he’s got a huge heart.”

Bike for Mali