News & Stories
North On a Bike: Jonathan Benson’s Ride for Keith Matteson
Ride along with Jonathan virtually via his blog, Facebook, and Instagram.
“I think better when I’m moving, always have,” says Jonathan Benson in the opening post of his blog, which will capture his motorcycle journey from Newport, Oregon to Deadhorse, Alaska—one of the northernmost drivable points in North America.
For Jonathan, the motorcycle is a vessel for the elusive “flow state.” It’s also a vehicle for honoring his beloved friend Keith Matteson, who passed away from ALS in 2023. Jonathan’s journey, “North On a Bike,” will raise critical funds for people living with ALS. You can support his journey at the button below.
“South On a Bike”
Like Jonathan, Keith lived for the rhythm of the road. Before his diagnosis, he rode his BMW F650GS Dakar motorcycle all the way from the United States to the southernmost tip of South America, documenting his travels online along the way. Although he thought he was just feeling worn out from this monumental journey, Keith later realized his final miles were shadowed by the early symptoms of ALS. Even after his diagnosis, Keith approached the disease with the same mindset he brought to the road: “just another problem to solve.”
Although Jonathan hadn’t been on a bike in years, Keith’s motorcycle ultimately found a new home with him—but it needed work. As Jonathan began to restore the bike, the project and the subsequent rides helped him rediscover joy and healing after the isolation of the pandemic.
“I grew up believing that if you took good care of a machine it’d take good care of you… I promised [Keith] I’d take good care of it and we’d keep going on rides as long as we could.”
— excerpt from Jonathan’s blog, North On a Bike
Honoring Keith’s Legacy
Now, Jonathan is heading north. The ride to Deadhorse, Alaska—possibly even to Tuktoyaktuk on Canada’s Arctic Ocean—isn’t just about scenery. It’s a mission: to raise awareness and funds for ALS Northwest, which supported Keith throughout his journey with ALS. With every mile, Jonathan honors the memory of a friend who met ALS with courage, humor, and humility.
“Since the bike had already been as far south as it could go I asked ‘how far north can you ride?’ [Keith had] already thought of the trip, and his concise answer was laid out in miles, oil changes, distances between fuel stops, how many back tires and how many days of camping above the Arctic Circle on the Alaskan Dalton Highway it would take. ‘That’d be a cool trip’ he said.”
— excerpt from Jonathan’s blog, North On a Bike
Join the Ride and Support the Fight
Jonathan knows not everyone can brave the cold northern roads. But he believes everyone can help make a difference. During a time when ALS research is especially threatened with funding cuts, his ride is an urgent call to action.
Interested in setting up your own tribute fund in honor or memory of a loved one? Create one at this link.