Cross-country cyclists from the University of Illinois will be in Albert Lea on Saturday at First Lutheran Church.

“We’re basically a bunch of college students,” said junior Shannon Cleary.

She said there will be 28 riders, and each of them is hoping to raise $3,500 for cancer research by cycling from New York to San Francisco. The money goes to organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Livestrong and Camp Kesem, among others.

The cyclists are in Rochester today visiting the Mayo Clinic. They will arrive Saturday in groups, not all at once, but the riders should all be at the church by 5 p.m. if people wish to visit. Part of what they do, Cleary said, is interact with community members and especially cancer survivors.