Tour de Coast: Mak’s 550-Mile RIDE for Conservation Florida

Written By Guest User

All photos provided by Mak

This October, one determined cyclist is taking on the ultimate Florida ride - and she’s doing it for

wild Florida. 

Meet Makayla “Mak” Fick, an endurance athlete from Jacksonville Beach who’s trading her daily training rides for a roughly 550-mile, three-day journey from Jacksonville Beach to Key West. Her mission? To raise awareness and funds for Conservation Florida and our work protecting the lands and waters that make Florida home - for people, for nature, forever. 

From Her Hello Kitty Bike to 500 Miles 

Mak’s love for cycling started early - with the smell of rubber tires, the thrill of speed, and a Hello Kitty bike that she begged her dad to take the training wheels off of. From biking to school every day to outpacing her dad up hills, cycling became more than just transportation - it was joy, challenge, and freedom. 

After running at Ole Miss and immersing herself in Jacksonville Beach’s endurance sports community, Mak decided she was ready for her biggest “side quest” yet: Tour de Coast. 

Why She’s Riding for Wild Florida 

What she’s named the Tour de Coast isn’t just about miles - it’s about mission. Mak was inspired by Conservation Florida’s work to protect Florida’s wildlife corridors, including the Guana River Wildlife Management Area, a critical habitat and recreation area we helped protect from a land swap earlier this year. That victory preserved not just a safe haven for wildlife, but also a beloved route for gravel cyclists and nature lovers alike. 

“Cycling has given me so much joy and connection,” Mak says. “I wanted to use this ride to give back - to protect the places I love to explore and help others experience them for years to come.” 

Mak’s route across the Sunshine State.

The Ride

From October 24–26, 2025, Mak will pedal the length of Florida in just three days, connecting with local bike shops and fellow cyclists along the way. Each mile she rides will shine a spotlight on Florida’s wildlife corridors - the connected lands that allow animals like the Florida panther, black bear, and countless bird species to roam freely and safely. 

“I wanted to use this ride to give back - to protect the places I love to explore and help others experience them for years to come.”

- Mak Fick

How You Can Support Mak’s Mission 

Mak has set a fundraising goal to support Conservation Florida’s mission to protect Florida’s wild and working lands. Here’s how you can be part of the Tour de Coast: 

Every dollar raised helps us protect the lands and waters that make Florida the paradise we call home.

Together, we can keep Florida wild - for wildlife, for people, and yes, for cyclists! 

in case you missed it:

About Conservation Florida:  

Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places, and connecting a functional Florida Wildlife Corridor. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved more than 40,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.  

Follow us on social media @conservationflorida.  

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