Tag - Compassion Australia

Saturday’s final day of the Ride for Hope was the most punishing of all. 107 kilometres from start to finish with lots of very serious climbing and one major descent. Add strong headwinds and you have a recipe for several grueling hours on the bike.

To be honest, I found the day rather exhilarating. While it was a very tough day, and I could have done with quite a lot more training before the event, my 51 year old legs seemed to remember what to do and carried me across the hills with far more ease than I had expected.

My bike computer tells me that from Monday to Saturday I cycled 528.3 km from Albany to Perth. I cycled with 29 other riders, supported by an incredible team of 9.

I enjoy the cycling part of rides like Ride for Hope but I love what they’re able to achieve. Thanks to some very generous supporters the ride raised over $50 000 between two very worthwhile causes, with around $27 000 so far headed to Compassion to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

If I could communicate anything to you about why I ride it would be that Compassion’s programs work. I know that beyond a doubt because I’ve personally seen it in five of the twenty six countries where it’s working, in both rural and urban areas.

I also know that the programs work because independent research that was released last year shows it very clearly.

Compassion child sponsorship works. Independent research shows that children who participated in Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program between 1980 and 1992 stayed in school longer, were more likely to have salaries and white-collar employment, and were more likely to be leaders in their communities and churches than their peers who did not participate in the program. Once Compassion sponsored children, these adults are now making a difference in their communities as mums, dads, pastors, teachers, doctors, even members of parliament.

The ride may be over for 2014 but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to contribute. While we’ve unpacked our bags, cleaned our bikes and put our feet up for a little while, poverty hasn’t stopped. You can still make a difference for those in extreme poverty by donating through my fundraising page. I hope and pray that you’ll consider giving generously.

It’s cold, wet and windy. Sunday afternoon and I’m in Albany, contemplating cycling out of here in the morning in stormy conditions. I could take the easy way out and jump in a support vehicle but when Ride for Hope 2014 begins, I’ll be on my bike … rain, hail or shine.

I’m not a ‘macho hero’, I’m simply a guy who has seen the end result of rides like this. While I’m cycling over 500 kilometres from Albany to Perth, there’ll be children in extreme poverty who benefit from my sore muscles. While I know that I’ll have a lot of fun on the ride, I also know there’ll be tough stretches when my legs will ask again, why are we doing this? I’m not fully fit, I’m not fully prepared, but I’m willing to stretch myself for the children who will receive the help they need through Compassion.

There are others on this ride, many who you can see in the photo above, who are nervous about what this week holds. This is the first ride for many. They’ve trained but they still don’t really know what tests await them. Like me, they’re prepared to take on the ride because they know of the great benefit that others will receive.

I want to do a deal with you. I’m prepared to face whatever comes and do my very best to make every kilometre if you are prepared to sponsor me. Maybe $5, maybe $10, maybe $500. Whatever you can afford will make a world of difference. You can support me by going to my fundraising page. Please click the link and help a child living in extreme poverty now.