Training ride 2/26/13

My training ride this afternoon was the first one in a week. Healing up from the blood clot, meetings at work and cold windy weather on Saturday made the excuses easy.  Today I start in earnest so for lunch a beautiful 40 mile ride around Washoe Lake.  One of the reasons I like riding in North Western Nevada is because it straddles the eastern slope of the Sierra.  In a short distance you can ride in the forested mountains, farmland step and open desert.  Here is an example taken from Franktown Lane looking North toward Reno.  An interesting side bar, if your familiar with professional bike racing, this is where Greg Lemond lived as a kid and started his riding career .

Check out Christ's Hope Video

Here is a video of the Care and Compassion ministry of Christ's Hope.  Listen to the alarming effects of HIV and AID's.

Christ's Hope Care and Compassion video

Good News

Received some good news this week.  My training has been hampered lately due to a blood clot in a varicose vein.  These types of clots are not as serious as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) because they are close to the surface of the skin.  The last few weeks my doctor wanted me to ride, but not induce too much stress. So I have been riding at a nice easy pace and not exerting myself on climbs.  This week the doctor re-scanned the veins and found that damaged vein should heal without surgery.  I now have the OK to train without restriction.

Photo from Christ' Hope International web page

A word about the cause;  it is estimated that there are about 30 million orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Half of whom are orphaned as a result of AIDS.  By comparison, the US has approximately 500,000 orphans without a permanent family home.  To give you an idea of the size of the problem Los Angeles County CA has approximately 8 million people. In Sub-Saharan Africa the children orphaned by the AIDS crisis will fill two county's the size of LA.   According to some statistics in third world countries 60% of female enslaved in   sex trafficking are orphans.  Christ Hope International is attempting to stem the tidal wave of destruction caused by the AIDS epidemic in Africa, one child at a time.

I am excited with the progress of the donations.  Thanks to all who have supported the effort so far.  I would particularly like to thank my classmates from Clark High School.  They are rallying around me and this cause. I can not tell you how encouraging your efforts have been.  We will continue to strive to reach the goal.

First response

I received my first donation today Doug thank you for kicking things off. I was pleasantly surprised to see two of my high school class mates from 38 years ago endorsing my participation and helping gather steam as I try to raise the funds required.  Libby and Doug posted the ride on our high school class reunion facebook page, you guys are awesome thank you. 

A little information about the ride might be helpful.  All the details are or will be updated on the official web page www.rideforhopectc.org but here is a summary version.  We kick off the ride on June 17, 2013, leaving Dana Point, CA where we will dip our tires in the Pacific Ocean.  There will be 6 to 10 teams of 4 rider, each team will complete a segment of each days ride.  Each team will have a support (SAG) vehicle getting the team to their designated start area and then after the team complete their segment for the day they will pick them up and drive to the next days starting point.  Approximate every two days the ride has an event in one of the larger metropolitan areas along the route.  Day one will be the kickoff event in the LA area.  Will be in Albuquerque NM, in the evening of day two,  then on to Dallas, Atlanta, Tallahassee and Daytona Beach FL.  when we reach the Atlantic Ocean we'll dip our tires in the ocean signifying the end of the ride...

 

Raising Support of AIDS orphans in Sub Saharan Afarica

I have joined a group of riders raising support for Christ Hope International.  From June 17 to the 26, we will be riding across the United States from California to Florida in ten days, raising financial support and awareness of the growing number of children orphaned and left abandoned as a result of the AIDS HIV epidemic.

Christs Hope International's mission is "Working towards an AIDS-free world" They are working to stem the tide of abandoned and lost orphans in sub Saharan Africa.  Providing shelter, nourishment and education.

I am trying to raise more that $7,000 in support for the ministry.  Would you please consider joining me financially.  In the "Important web site links" in the right margin and at the bottom of the page are links to Ride for Hope Cost to Cost and Christ's Hope International Web sites. There you can find out more about the mission of Christ's Hope International.  There is a link to the donations web site as well it will take you directly to my support page. 

Here you can keep tabs on the progress to the goal and later I'll post ride photos, journal posts and more.

Please keep me, the other Ride for Hope CTC members and Christ's Hope in your prayers.

Thanks for your support