Reston resident Don Weber pedaled 1,000 miles in 13 days, raising more than $38,000 for solar lighting in Malawi. He crossed the finish line on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Herndon headquarters of ePlus inc., his employer.

Weber, who works in information technology at ePlus, was one of six cyclists in the annual 1,000 Miles For 1,000 Lights event, first reported by FFXnow. The ride benefits the nonprofit Watts of Love.

The group set out Sept. 17 from Downers Grove, Illinois, the same Chicago-area town where Watts of Love is headquartered. The riders represented multiple companies. ePlus, a Herndon-based technology firm, sponsored the ride.

Watts of Love pairs solar lights with financial literacy training in communities that lack electricity. The nonprofit is working in Malawi, where the electrification rate stood at just 11 percent as of 2019, according to World Bank data. As of that year, rural areas had a 4 percent rate, and most families relied on candles, kerosene and firewood.

Weber, who lived abroad for years, said the mission resonated with him. Solar lights let families stop spending on kerosene and redirect that money toward income-earning investments, he said.

"If you can bring light into places where there's no electricity, then what that means is there's a way … Families can elevate themselves to the next level," Weber told FFXnow.

The ride was not without setbacks. Weber said the team dealt with mechanical problems on bikes, a truck and a trailer, plus physical struggles along the route. Still, some riders hit personal bests: one group climbed 10,000 feet in elevation, and another cyclist covered 142 miles in a single day.

Weber, a former runner, said he switched to cycling to reduce wear on his body and cover longer distances. He had completed multi-state rides before but never one this long.

Fellow cyclists Todd Wilson and Scott Hein, along with Hein's wife Jessica, have organized the ride since 2023 to support families living without electricity. As of Oct. 1, the 2026 ride had topped $38,000 in donations, according to FFXnow.

Weber said he is taking some downtime.

The group plans a 2027 ride in Michigan along Lake Michigan, though no date or registration details have been announced.

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