On July 1, John McCormack will hop on his dirt bike and leave New York City for a cross-country adventure. If all goes as planned, he'll arrive in Los Angeles at the end of the month—having raised $500,000 for Easter Seals Arkansas along the way.

John will travel along the Trans American Trail, or The TAT, a tough route that traverses high mountain passes, flat prairies and everything in between. But completing the difficult "bucket list" trip is nothing compared to the everyday accomplishments of McCormack's daughter, Haven, and other children with special needs.

As an infant, Haven underwent several surgeries for a heart defect, and during one of these surgeries her heart stopped. The doctors and nurses at Arkansas Children's Hospital saved her life, performing CPR for almost an hour. Now, Haven is a happy 9-year-old with an infectious smile. She works with her dedicated therapists at Easter Seals Arkansas to improve her speech and her motor skills. She recently walked down the runway all alone at Easter Seals' annual Fashion Event—a major accomplishment for a little girl whose parents were once told that she might never walk or talk.

She's also the inspiration behind John's cross-country journey and fundraiser, called Haven's Road. During the month-long ride, Haven's Road will share video stories featuring the children, staff and volunteers at Easter Seals Arkansas. They'll also work towards the $500,000 fundraising goal through sponsorships, online donations and special events along John's route.

You can learn more about the journey at HavensRoad.com. To follow along on social media, follow Haven's Road on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And, to donate in support of the project and Easter Seals Arkansas, visit EasterSealsAR.com/HavensRoad.