Hello There! You have found my fund-raising page. I am joining Team World Vision on the Esperanza Ride this summer. We will ride our bicycles from Seattle across the country to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS particularly in Malumeng, Lesotho.
"Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly. But the bumblebee doesn't know that, so it goes on flying anyway." ~Mary Kay Ash
Over the holidays, I was able to spend some time with my nephews. I joined Anton in working on an Avatar Lego creation when he realized that I did not know anything about the Avatar series. He proceeded to recite an episode of a video going back and forth between the different characters and their actions. I didn’t think much of it until my sister told me that he had seen the video once, at least six months ago. Children have such a wonderful gift to give our world. It is a sacred gift. It almost seems to me that they are more connected to how our world needs to live than we adults are. They open up to the possibilities around them and let loose in their own way – a ‘bumblebee’ of sorts. Anton astounds me all the time with his knowledge. In fact, children constantly amaze me. That is why I am riding on the Esperanza Ride.
We are riding for the benefit of children who struggle with HIV/AIDS and all of its tentacles. According to United Nations estimates, every 14 seconds a child is orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. This means that over 6,000 children everyday join the over 14 million children worldwide who have been orphaned by this disease. Often these children do not have enough to eat, no clean water to drink, no access to proper medical care, they cannot attend school and grow up in an environment of fear and neglect. How can we sit by and let children suffer or lose their lives to something that is fightable? With a little education and some action, children’s lives will become much more secure. With your donation children will receive food, shelter and medication. Each child’s limitation or even death removes from the world the possibility of another ‘Anton’ knowing things and spouting off wisdom by just having the freedom to be a child. This is a gift worthy of riding 4000 miles for. This is a cause worthy of you donating to.
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has his foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." ~Archbishop Desmond Tutu
If I remain neutral I am participating in the cause of the abuse against these children. The ravages of epidemics are far reaching. Especially in today’s global environment the reality one country faces is felt in another.
According to Dorothy Day, “People say, what is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time.” Well, this is my one baby step in moving and educating some people to act on behalf of others. Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. Each revolution of my pedal will bring another child a measure of hope.
Will you help me bring smiles and joy to the spirits of the children struggling from the multitude of effects of HIV/AIDS?
There are three simple ways that you can support my efforts:
1) Click on the following link sponsor a child in Malumeng, Lesotho directly:
http://donate.wvus.org/OA_HTML/xxwvDoChildSearch.jsp?xxwvLocation=0077&xxwvProject=172254&xxwvCampaign=10971419
Choose the age and gender of your child. Only $35 a month will completely change this child's life-and yours too.
~ If you choose this option, please email me and let me know of your donation (for record keeping purposes).
OR
2) Click on the GIVE NOW button at the bottom of the page and make an online donation towards my goal. As little as $420 will support a child for an entire year with things like access to improved nutrition, healthcare, clean water, school fees and supplies to help school-age children stay in school and vocational training for older orphans as well as trained volunteers to look after their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs and to help care for sick or dying parents. You can help by sponsoring a child for one month at $35 or 3 months at $105. Any amount will help!
OR
3) Click on the box below to print out a form to mail in.
~ If you choose this option, please email me and let me know of your donation (for record keeping purposes).
Don't forget to check out my journal of the trip at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Esperanza2008
Thank you once again!