“(We said) ‘I hope there’s lasagna, garlic bread and pie,’” said cyclist Sean Chretien, one of about 25 young cyclists on a seven-week long coastal trip from Vancouver, Canada, to Tijuana, Mexico. The group came riding into Half Moon Bay Saturday evening to rest for the night and spread the word about their mission of “Riding to Break the Cycle” of world poverty. They also got the dinner of their dreams.
This is the second annual bicycle trip for Global Agents for Change, a non-profit organization, run by individuals under the age of 30 and based in Vancouver. The group’s president, Shawn Smith, said the group has raised $80,000 — on this ride alone — for micro-credits.
 Jackie Douglas and Sean Chretien help themselves to a dinner provided by the staff and members of the Coastside Lutheran Church on Saturday. |
Micro-credits are small trust-based loans given to low-income entrepreneurs who don’t have a credit history and need additional capital to get their businesses started.
The non-profit is giving the donations to Kiva, an organization that enables micro-credit loaners to select and connect with their entrepreneur recipients.
In order to keep the financial focus of the ride on raising the money for the entrepreneurs, the group sought out campsites, community centers and churches along the approximately 1,800-mile route that would allow members to spend an overnight free. For Half Moon Bay, the staff at Coastside Lutheran Church volunteered.
“I think it’s exciting,” said Brett, who worked with several church members to extend hospitality to the group. “I think it’s fabulous first of all that we’re able to (have Global Agents for Change here) and secondly that we’re able to help them achieve their goals.”
In addition to the lasagana, staff and members at the church provided numerous beverages and side dishes for the cyclists, complete with space for the cyclists to roll out their sleeping bags and sleep for the night and breakfast in the morning.
The cyclists, having just ridden 30 miles from the last stop in San Francisco’s Mission District, showed their appreciation.
“It’s generosity like this that helps keep the money where it needs to go,” said Shawn’s mother, Karin Smith. Shawn’s mom is driver of the support vehicle, and all-around assistant.
“They’re used to the floor,” she said about sleeping arrangements. “A floor with carpet is exciting and having a roof over their heads.”
Global Agents for Change got its start in the fall of 2006 from what Smith, 28, likes to call “a happy accident.” Smith and his cousin had been discussing getting together to do something fun when they came up with the idea of going on a bike trip to Mexico. Smith decided it would be a nice idea to attach some kind of cause to the ride and, with his background in business, started exploring the idea of using micro-credits.
Once the ball got rolling, Smith’s sister and a couple friends signed on for the ride. When word got out, 21 riders — all friends or friends of friends — completed the first “Riding to Break the Cycle” ride last summer.
The ride was such a success that Smith was compelled to organize the ride again this year.
“We went off with our original goal of $5,000 and made $40,000,” he said.
Although Smith and his sister are the only repeat riders from last year, the group’s strong web-based presence combined with some recruiting brought in 100 applicants for this year’s ride.
Smith and the other organization volunteers went through the applications, essays and interviews to narrow the group down to 25.
Many of the participants were initially in it for the adventure or to support the cause and didn’t consider themselves cyclists — at least before the ride. About 70 percent of the team comes from Canada — many in the Vancouver area. The rest live primarily in the United States, from New York, to Florida to Colorado and the Bay Area. One rider made the trip to Vancouver from Sweden.
Having traveled approximately 50 miles a day for a month, these cyclists have experienced extreme weather conditions and some minor injuries and illness.
“Weather has been a big thing,” said Colorado native and rider Kelly Rembolt, 25, “From the pouring rain to the burning heat.”
It rained through all of Washington, the riders said, and they experienced 100-degree heat in California’s Humboldt County.
But the team remains positive.
“(I like) the beautiful views,” said Vancouver resident Nicole Peterson, “and everyone we meet along the way has been really fabulous.”
Smith said he hopes the young riders, aged 18 to 30 years, will be inspired by this trip — realizing they have the capacity to do many things.
“(It’s about) sustainable solutions for global poverty while inspiring youth to create a better world,” he said.
The team is scheduled to arrive in Mexico on July 12 where the cyclists will spend some time relaxing, touring the city of Tijuana and visiting a micro-credit office.
Next summer, Smith hopes to have a ride in Europe in addition to coastal ride to Tijuana.
For more information on Global Agents of Change, to make a donation, or to sign up as a cyclist for next year visit the organization’s Web site at http://www.globalafc.org/.
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