The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Flynn Donoho is a long way from home, but that is just fine with him.

The 53-year-old from Huntington Beach, California is biking 13,000 miles across 34 states for cancer awareness, with just his dog, Diva, for company.

In January 2011, Donoho biked 10,000 miles and decided that this time, he wanted to go further. He's come as far east as Indiana and is now on his way back to his home state.

He said he never asked for anything along his journey, except a place to pitch a tent and, sometimes, to eat or sleep in food kitchens. He said he wanted to do the bike trip to raise cancer awareness and show that everyone is touched in one way or another by some type of cancer.

"Everyone I've talked to, and I've talked to hundreds of thousands of people and I don't remember any of their names, but every one of them is affected by cancer in one way or another," Donoho said. "Them, a friend, battling, dying, it's phenomenal to me how many people are affected by cancer, it's blown me away."

Donoho arrived in Ottumwa Friday, August 17 and left for Albia on Monday. He said the most picturesque spot he's biked through was Eureka, Montana, but his favorite states to see in general were Iowa and Illinois.

So far, Donoho has raised $800 for the American Cancer Society. To donate to his cause, visit the Team ACS website, click "donate" and enter Donoho's name.