Bicyclists can raise money for the Haitian disaster relief effort by joining a bike ride across the rolling terrain of southeastern San Diego County on Feb. 13.
The charity bike ride is named “80 for Haiti.” Organizer Chris Kostman notes the 80-mile bike ride mostly follows historic Highway 80. There's minimal traffic, no traffic lights and just a few stop signs.
The entire entry fee of $80, or more if you wish to donate, goes directly to Mercy Corps, a non-profit that's on the ground in the earthquake zone in Port-au-Prince.
Chris is president of AdventureCorps, which is absorbing all the costs; they're looking for co-sponsors to supply food and water. AdventureCorps produces and promotes ultra-endurance and extreme sports events such as the Furnace Creek 508, Death Valley Century and Double, and Mount Laguna Bicycle Classic.
I asked Chris why he's getting involved in this effort:
“How could we not do something? This is the worst thing to happen to humanity in my lifetime. What we at AdventureCorps do best is organize endurance sports events, especially long-distance cycling and running events. Our events are designed as forum for life-changing experiences. That's whey they are general very long, very difficult and cover a lot of ground: the inner and outer universes, as we like to say.
“Participating in an ultra cycling or ultra running event is a choice, however; the pain and suffering are self-inflicted. This is not the case for the people of Haiti. They are suffering right now and will be for many years to come.”
Chris said he was heading to the Lighthouse Cycling Tour in Puerto Rico the weekend of Feb. 5-7, but canceled his plans to travel to the Caribbean for “fun and games.” Instead, he decided put together the “80 for Haiti” fund-raiser instead.
“We hope that cyclists will unite and ride this event and/or donate to the cause. The Haitians have a great national motto: Strength Through Unity. Let's hope that cyclists feel the same way. We're all on this pale blue dot of a planet together.”
The bike ride offers three checkpoints and roving support. The round-trip ride starts in Pine Valley and heads east and south of the town. Most of the route follows Old US 80, although there's a section on Highway 94.
Old Highway 80 was historically the through-road from Yuma to San Diego. Most traffic now travels on Interstate 8. See a map of the route.
See all the details at 80 for Haiti at the AdventureCorps website.
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.
(The previously published date, Feb. 6, for the bike ride to be changed due to conflicting uses on those roads that weekend.)
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