Bike riders know poverty can be a vicious cycle

from the Grand Rapids Press

Sea to Sea is traveling through my home state. So youknow I had to put a mention of it on here. - Kale

By Paul Kopenkoskey

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Etched in Bill Dracht's memory is the quadruple heart bypass surgery he endured 20 years ago.

Surviving the operation is a clear signal to the 70-year-old that God did not want him to fritter away his retirement years with self-centered pursuits.

He said that's the reason he joined the Christian Reformed Church-sponsored Sea to Sea Bike Tour.

Plus, it's a chance to dispel the notion that white-haired people are old fogies whose best years are behind them, said Dracht, a retired general contractor who lives in Missaukee County.

"It really hit me how God has blessed me," said Dracht. "I never dreamed I would do something like this one day."

He has only one quibble: "The one thing the Lord doesn't have enough of is a backwind."

Dracht, his wife, Mary, and another 143 cyclists are pedaling 3,881 miles over nine weeks from Seattle to Jersey City, N.J., to raise funds for Christian Reformed Church-affiliated global anti-poverty agencies. About 50 bikers are from West Michigan and, so far, their efforts have raised $2.1 million.

The cyclists have collected money, and donations can be made online at www.crcna.org.

Another 65 cyclists will join them for the final leg of the trip, which concludes Aug. 30 at Liberty State Park.

About 3,000 people hailed the cyclists' efforts Sunday at Fifth Third Ballpark with a standing ovation.

The gathering included an appeal from urban activist Shane Claiborne, co-author of "Jesus for President," to help cast their religion in a new light for those who say many Christians are hypocritical and judgmental.

"We need to show them Christians believe in a God in heaven who cares about those on Earth," Claiborne said.

Bikers Doug and Joy Lutke, of Dorr, said enduring pockets of stifling heat and Colorado's energy-sapping mountains has been worth the front-row view of understanding poverty's root causes.

Their experiences included interacting with some of the 80 homeless people housed at Roseland CRC properties in suburban Chicago.

For Doug Lutke, it brought to the forefront Sea to Sea's slogan: "Cycling to end the cycle of poverty."

"What really made it for me is that evangelism is not just putting up a sign outside," he said. "It's been an eye-opening experience."

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