Cycling from sea to sea; C-K residents pedaling to end poverty

from The Chatham Daily News

Posted By HEATHER TRAVIS

Three Chatham residents are ready to hit the road to end the cycle of poverty.

In June, Paul and Teresa Hoekstra, along with Cynthia Aukema, will be pedaling across Canada and the U.S. - from sea to sea - in the largest cross-continental bike tour.

The fundraising event, organized by the Christian Reform Church, in partnership with the Reformed Church in America, will benefit the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, the Christian Reformed World Missions and Partners Worldwide.

Cynthia, Paul and Teresa hope to raise $30,000 for the cause.

The threesome will be joined by more than 200 other cyclists, from Canada, the U.S., and Haiti. Although the cross-continent bike ride starts in Seattle, Wash., participants can join at different legs of the tour.

"You leave all your luxuries at home. You get on your bike day after day," said Cynthia in an interview Thursday.

The entire tour will take nine weeks from June 30 - Aug. 30 and cover about 6,000 kilometres.

Although cyclists are pedaling most days, they rest each Sunday and participate in celebration rallies along the route.

Trucks loaded with gear, food and volunteers will be following the cyclists on their journey. At the end of the day, the group will put away their bikes and set up camp.

It takes more than physical fitness to allow a person to complete the tour, said Teresa.

Three years ago, she participated in a similar sea to sea bike ride. She said the tour was wrought with emotional highs and lows as she watched the country pass by the front of her bike.

"You need to have more than your own strength, you need to have faith," she said, adding they are riding on behalf of their community and those who wanted to go but are unable to ride.

"Three years ago I sat on the sidelines and I thought, if the opportunity came around again, I'd do it," said Cynthia. "It's just a chance of a lifetime."

The group has been doing core training and riding on indoor bike trainers to prepare for the event.

Although the majority of the tour is completed in the U.S., on Aug. 20, the cyclists will be crossing the border at Walpole Island and staying the evening at the Kinsmen Auditorium in Chatham.

When they roll into Chatham, the group of cyclists should be at its largest, said Paul.

"I think the whole thing is going to be a life-changing experience," he said.

On Feb. 23, the Chatham-Kent Christian Men's Choir will be holding a benefit program at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew's United Church in Chatham. Visiting choral group, The Himsings, from Indiana, U.S. will be performing. A free will offering will be collected.

Cynthia is also organizing a mega crop and stamping weekend fundraiser on March 28-29 at the Chatham Christian School. Local scrapbooking vendors have been invited. The registration costs from this weekend will directly benefit Sea to Sea.

To register for the scrapbooking weekend, contact Cynthia at 519-351-3090.

To make a donation on behalf of the local cyclists to Sea to Sea, visit the website at www.seatosea.org.