In the summer of 2006, Patrick Cook-Deegan bicycled 2,800 miles across Laos, Cambodia, and Burma in order to raise $22,500 for a primary school in Laos and provide two K-12 scholarships for girls in Cambodia. During the ride, Patrick spoke with hundreds of locals, spent many nights in monasteries and small villages, and visited numerous development organizations. He was tailed by government officials in Burma, the guest of honor at a Buddhist ceremony in a village in Laos, and completed a 10-day silent meditation retreat in Cambodia. During his journey, he worked in conjunction with the organization Room to Read (www.roomtoread.org).

During his bike trip, Patrick spent a month in Burma. While in Burma, he was frequently followed by military police and plainclothes police officers. He witnessed forced labor and the harsh reality of life under Burma's military dictators. After returning from his trip, Patrick became involved in Burma's democracy movement.

Following his bike trip, Patrick started a non-profit to send low-income American high school students abroad to volunteer. He hoped to foster global citizenship by providing American students with an opportunity to experience life abroad.

A graduate of Brown University, Patrick has lectured at over 75 schools and universities about the conflict in Burma, social entrepreneurship, and global citizenship. In 2009, he will be focusing on a new campaign in the Burma movement to take the situation in Burma to the International Criminal Court.

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