7-10-2025 4:48am

Local Teacher Biking

Summer Stories: Pine Grove Middle teacher trains for charity trek across Maryland

Ken Mihalyov prepares to raise funds for pediatric cancer patients

A 329-mile journey close to his heart

Maryland is sometimes called “America in Miniature” because the state’s landscape includes everything from mountains to sandy beaches. BCPS teacher Ken Mihalyov will experience the full range of Maryland’s varied landscape as he participates in Maryland Trek—a weeklong, 329-mile journey across the state.

The annual fundraising trek, to take place August 3-9, is organized by local meteorologist Justin Berk, who Mihalyov met 15 years ago. “The project supports Just In Power Kids, Berk’s nonprofit that helps children battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses,” Mihalyov explains. “I miss my students and colleagues during summer break, but I have found a powerful way to stay connected by participating in a journey that’s close to my heart.”

“As an educator, I believe in showing students the power of community, perseverance, and giving back—and this trek is my way of living those lessons beyond the classroom.”

Different challenges every day

He continued, “Every day of the trek we honor a different ‘power kid’ who is actively in treatment or recently in remission. Their story is shared on their trek day, and all the trekkers carry their photo on their pack for that day. Many of the power kids also meet us on the trek when they are able to do so. This is year 12 of the trek, and it has raised nearly a million dollars for pediatric cancer patients.”

About a dozen people, including Mihalyov and Berk, will do the full trek. Many others will join in for a day.

“Every day is slightly different,” says Mihalyov. “On day one, we start in Wisp [a ski resort in Western Maryland] at the top of the mountain. For four of the seven days, we will walk/run 14 miles and bike for 27 miles [the length of a marathon]. One day, when we will probably be joined by 30 others, we will bike all day for 56 miles.”

As a first-timer doing the entire trek, Mihalyov is thankful that they will sleep in hotels along the way and that a team will accompany them in vehicles to ensure their safety and provide snacks and water.

“One dinner will be at the Outback restaurant in Salisbury,” he says, “They treat the trekkers to dinner every year.”

On the final day of the journey, the trekkers will be in Ocean City and will walk the last two miles onto the beach and into the water.

Mihalyov’s wife is among the trekkers’ family members who plan to meet them in Ocean City on the final day.

Perhaps most surprising about Mihalyov’s participation in this event is that he doesn’t consider himself a “big biker,” and, in fact, has borrowed a bike to ride.

Since the school year ended, the teacher has spent most of this time training for the Maryland Trek. He began with walking and running intervals and is now up to six workouts per week. “My longest bike ride so far was 30 miles, and longest walk was 18 miles,” he says. “I am most nervous about the first day. After that, I will just need to keep getting up and doing more.”

Mihalyov invites the community to follow his journey on the trek and support the cause by donating through his fundraising page.

“Let’s make every mile matter for kids who need our strength, support, and hope!” - Ken Mihalyov

Mihalyov in selfies with students

Originally from the Chicago area, Mihalyov went to college in North Carolina and Florida and has been teaching in Maryland for more than 20 years. This is only his fourth year with BCPS; he has taught 6th grade science at Arbutus Middle School and last year taught 5th grade at Harford Hills Elementary School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Central Florida and master's degree from McDaniel College.

“I’m excited to begin a new chapter this fall teaching 6th grade science again, this time at Pine Grove Middle,” he says. “I love teaching science. The content is really engaging and fun for kids. They get to learn by doing.”