Cyclists Excited to Serve the Poor on Sea to Sea Ride

June 2, 2008—Apparently cycling an average of 72 miles (116 kilometers) every day for two months isn’t challenging enough. Many of the 221 cyclists riding in this summer’s “Sea to Sea Bike Tour” will also participate in community service projects in cities and towns along the route once they’ve put in their miles for the day.

“Sea to Sea” is the largest bike tour of its kind to cross North America and its goal is to raise awareness, action and funds in support of people trapped in the cycle of poverty.

To help achieve these goals, the tour will partner with local social assistance agencies in select communities along the route in supporting their efforts to help the poor.

After cycling 42 miles (68 km) into Yakima, Wash., on July 3, about a dozen cyclists will have the option to sign up for the tour’s first community service outing at Union Gospel Mission. While there, they can help prepare and serve the evening meal or help give away furniture that has been donated from yard sales or companies that have re-modeled their offices.

“People come to the warehouse where we have volunteers who help them load furniture into their vehicles,” says Charlotte Thorpe, volunteer coordinator at the mission. “It can get really interesting getting some of the items in their cars.”

Community projects will vary from serving meals to the homeless, to helping with bike maintenance. On August 22 in Hamilton, Ont., a host of cyclists will ride together to a summer camp for underprivileged youth run by Mission Services to encourage them before they prepare to head back to school.

“This will be a wonderful testimony to the kids saying: ‘look, there are people out there biking across North America doing what they can to make a difference in the lives of people like you,’” says Thanh Campbell, community and family services general manager.

In addition to Yakima and Hamilton, projects are currently being set up in Sunnyside, Wash., Boise, Idaho, Denver, Colo., Gary, Ind., Grand Haven, Mich., London, Ont., St. Catharines, Ont., and Binghamton, NY.

Selected cities are based on how many miles the cyclists ride that day and what partnership opportunities are available. Between five and 24 riders will be needed in most cases and participation by cyclists is optional. Despite the challenge of long-distance cycling, many riders are excited about the community outreach projects.

Any way we can connect the cause of fighting poverty to our trip is a wonderful idea,” says Pete Wiersma, of Zeeland, Mich. “This would be part of fulfilling our goal of focusing attention on poverty.”

“This truly confirms the heart of the message that we are trying to get across,” adds Thea Heimstra, of London, Ont.

Some of the community projects—and the tasks to be done there—are not yet confirmed. See the Sea to Sea web site for a tentative list.

Sea to Sea begins in Seattle, Wash., on June 30 and ends in Jersey City, New Jersey on August. 30. The tour hopes to raise $1.5 million to support programs that help end the cycle of poverty for families and communities around the world. To make a donation, call 1-888-272-2453 or visit www.SeatoSea.org.