Yes Riders hit the road for humanitarian aid

A team of young people mounted their bicycles in Seattle on June 1 and embarked on a "transcontinental ride for humanitarian aid" scheduled to finish up in Boston at the end of July.

Participants in the Yes Ride have set two goals – to raise a minimum of $200,000 for beneficiaries, including Partners In Health, who are committed to improving the lives of people in the poorest regions of the world; and to create a moving monument that motivates humanity to fights the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty.

In addition to Partners In Health, beneficiaries of the Yes Ride include the Emory Vaccine Center, International Peace Initiatives, Heifer International and Circles of Ten: Women for World Peace.

The Yes Ride was conceived and organized by a group of young people from Boulder, Colorado, who hope to turn it into an annual event that will mobilize people to "say yes to the end of poverty, yes to self-empowerment, yes to inspiring others, yes to humanity."

As the June 1 takeoff date neared, nineteen riders had signed up to pedal the entire 4,000 miles, stopping at schools, religious organizations, Rotary clubs and other sponsors along the way. Other dedicated cyclists and activists are expected to join up for stretches of  the ride.

In the words of Chris Markl, one of the organizers of the Yes Ride, “This event appeals to me because the magnitude of the event mirrors the magnitude of the effort needed to end global poverty. We must match massive tragedy with massive effort.”

[posted June 2006]