A group of bicyclists entered Sault, Ont. Friday morning via the International Bridge as they continue their bi-national trek across the continent to raise awareness and funds to fight poverty.
The 2017 Sea to Sea ride, which began June 26 in Vancouver and aims to end in Halifax Aug. 29, is a 6,750 kilometre journey including 131 Canadian and American participants.
Not every bicyclist has signed up to go the entire distance, some of them opting for a partial journey instead, but SooToday caught up with three Sea to Sea bicyclists committed to going all the way.
“This is my first long bike ride. I started training in the spring and its been quite an experience. I started in Vancouver and the plan is to go to Halifax,” said Edmonton’s Jack Oudman, a retired truck salesman.
“The first three weeks was a real learning curve but since then it’s gotten easier to keep up with the group,” said Oudman, who said the weather along the way has been “fantastic.”
It’s a diverse group, ranging in age from 12 to 81, including many family members travelling together.
The pedalling pals include 81 men and 50 women, and have already pulled in their target amount of $1.5 million in donations, with more coming in.
70 per cent of the riders are Canadian, including 50 from Ontario’s 130 Christian Reformed churches.
Non-church members are welcome to join, though the Christian Reformed denomination has been the main catalyst.
“I took this on for the cause,” said Calgary-based Ally Johnson, a clinical nutritionist.
“Realistically, is poverty something we can end? It’s really about creating solutions so that people who are in a state of poverty have opportunities to step out.”
“All people have innate abilities, so what is wonderful about this ride is that it partners with two organizations (Partners Worldwide and World Renew, who aim to combat extreme poverty affecting 800 million people worldwide).”
“Partners Worldwide creates opportunities for jobs to be created in North America and overseas,” Johnson said, pointing to examples of a project in which South American communities are being helped to export coconut oil, and a World Renew project helping out with farming in Africa.
Johnson said she plans to continue bicycling to Newfoundland after the Sea to Sea ride officially ends for the rest of the group.
“Part of this ride is rehab for me, but its also living the idea of being of service and help,” said Jasper Hoogendam, a retired Christian school principal from Cobourg, Ontario, who is recovering from a head injury.
Not only does the Sea to Sea effort strive to help communities worldwide develop economically to get out of poverty, but the bicyclists themselves have become a community, Johnson said.
A previous cross country Sea to Sea bicycle trip took place across Canada in 2005, another in 2008 across the U.S. celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Christian Reformed Church in America, and another U.S. trek in 2013.
Those three rides raised $5.4 million to support over 1,000 organizations focused on ending poverty.
Every rider going the full route has been required to raise $12,000 for the cause before starting the journey.
The required amount is less for those not going the whole distance from coast to coast.
Receiving contributions from family, friends and workplaces, along with special events in municipalities and church communities, some have received donations of almost $50,000.
“$150 gets a family on its feet, so I’ve just passed the $15,000 mark on my run, so if you do the math it means 100 families will be helped,” Hoogendam said.
The group has been staying in tents every night, but has also been able to stay in schools, churches and homes along the way.
From Vancouver, the riders went through Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg, then entered the U.S. south of Lake Superior for about 700 kilometres.
After re-entering Canada through the Sault Friday, the Sea to Sea riders will travel through southern Ontario’s cottage country, then on to Ottawa and the east coast.
Donations to Sea to Sea’s fight against poverty can be made by going online or by calling 1-888-272-2453.