Mark Burson A Thousand Oaks cyclist with titanium body parts is obsessed with racing his titanium bicycle more than 3,000 miles from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., to help underprivileged children.

Mark Burson, 54, has had his hip and collarbone replaced after two bicycling accidents. His titanium replacement parts now match the custom racing bicycle he’s going to ride in what he calls “the world’s toughest endurance cycling event.”

He and the other three members of his team will compete in Race Across America to raise money for Operation Progress. The charity is a Los Angelesbased nonprofit that uses the money it gets to help children from low-income, crime-infested areas go to college. Thus far, 35 students have been sponsored and are “now leading lives of purpose and meaning,” Burson said.

The charity was chosen by the captain of his racing team, Kristina Ripatti, 37, a former Los Angeles Police Department patrol officer who was assigned to a gang unit until she was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty. The mother of two will race using a hand cycle.

The race that begins June 12 is the team’s way of keeping guns out of children’s hands and giving good kids an opportunity, Burson said.

He hopes to make it across 14 states to Annapolis by cycling around the clock. To finish, the team must make it within the required 216 hours.

The route takes them through the Rocky Mountains, ascending to an 11,000-foot elevation. They plan to cover 375 miles a day, with team members taking 20minute turns riding as fast as they can.

To train, Burson, who is 5 feet, 8 inches and weighs 167 pounds, has been cycling three hours a day and weight training at a gym.

“There’s a tremendous amount of preparation,” he said.

Burson also works full time as a public relations manager in Los Angeles.

This isn’t his first endurance race. He rode more than 1,000 miles in the Race Across the West in two days, 22 hours and 25 minutes. His team finished second.

It takes about $50,000 for the four-man team and their crew to get to the finish line, Burson said. They already have FedEx as a sponsor—along with companies that make peanut butter and jelly. The popular combo just so happens to be a team favorite.

For more information or to help sponsor the team, call (805) 390-1767.