"Enjoy life and laugh," says cyclist Mio Yamasaki when asked her motto for living. "No, wait," she interrupts, as she ponders the question further. "Make other people laugh. This is the happiest way to live your life."

The words are followed by a warm smile and gentle chuckle, cementing my initial impression — this 26-year-old cyclist has seized life by the handlebars. Her thrills come not just from her travels, but from watching how her rides can have a positive impact on others.

Through sharing her story of her 2004-2005 solo six-month bike ride from the eastern shores of Kenya to the southern tip of South Africa, the Osaka native has touched the hearts of thousands. "I wanted to inspire people to try everything they want to do and for them to be grateful for their life," says Yamasaki.