It’s the end of the road for John and Brielle Merrifield.

The Westbrook father and daughter team, who were attempting to ride their tandem bike from Maine to Virginia Beach, have had to cut their trek short due to illness.

On Monday, John Merrifield checked in with the American Journal from Richmond, Va., where his daughter had just been discharged from a week in the hospital after being diagnosed with a bacterial infection and mononucleosis. Merrifield said they are staying with family and he will be flying back to Maine shortly, and will be returning to Virginia by van to pick up Brielle and bring her home.

The Merrifields had been riding their tandem bicycle down the eastern seaboard, in the name of their son and brother, Joshua Merrifield, who took his own life in March of 2004.

Calling their trip the “East Coast Bicycle Ride,” John and Brielle Merrifield were riding to raise money for a scholarship fund for Westbrook High School seniors they have established in Joshua Merrifield’s name, as well as the American Lung Association, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Center for Grieving Children.

With his daughter on the road to recovery, Merrifield describes the last week as an “interesting” one. They had arrived safely in Washington, D.C., and were headed to the White House for a private tour arranged by Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office.

The president had already left the White House when the Merrifields arrived, but they had a memorable visit anyway, just not in the way they expected it to be.

Merrifield said Brielle passed out shortly after arriving at the White House. He said he was impressed at how quickly White House staff moved to take care of his daughter, including personal care from the president’s doctor. “He was really cool,” Merrifield said. “He took care of her for an hour and a half.”

Once she recovered from her ordeal, Merrifield said the doctor took the time to make sure Brielle got to see the White House. “He took her on a special tour,” he said.

After they returned to their hotel, Merrifield said Brielle became sick again, and he took her to an area hospital where she was diagnosed. “She was one sick little girl,” he said. “It was pretty scary.”

While she has been released from the hospital and is recuperating with family who live in the area, Merrifield said the doctors told them Brielle was not going to be able to ride or play sports for several months, ending their ride. “Her riding season is done,” Merrifield said.

While the ride ended short of their goal, Merrifield said he still considers it a success. “It was probably one of the most powerful experiences of my life,” he said.

Once Brielle recovers and is back to full strength, Merrifield said they plan on making another long ride. “It’s been quite an experience,” he said. “We’ll definitely do another ride next year.”

The Merrifields have set up a Web site at www.eastcoastbicycleride.com to chronicle their trip, donations for the scholarship fund and the other charities can be sent to the Joshua Merrifield Memorial Foundation, c/o John and Brielle Merrifield, 9 Reserve St., Westbrook, Maine 04092.

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