The Ride of Our Lives

It's that time of year again.


In less than a day, Joy Ride Club will be undertaking the fifth edition of this personal advocacy called Ride for Hope (in previous editions, this has been known as Ride of Hope but was renamed starting with the fourth installment last April, called "Ride4Hope").

Ride for Hope is a personal advocacy project aiming to raise funds for people in need through "benefit rides." These are epic bike rides of at least 100 kilometers where the rider is challenged beyond his/her comfort zone with the goal of completing the course in order to raise the needed amount for the intended beneficiary.

This year we are aiming to help our countrymen in the Visayas who survived the onslaught of supertyphoon "Yolanda" (international code name: Haiyan) last year. I was one of the few who were privileged to see the destruction up close. Up to now, many of them are still struggling to bring their lives back to normal. In fact, many of the survivors still live in tents and lack access to proper health facilities.

The choice of helping the province of Aklan was easy, as this area was somewhat ignored by the media coverage of the Haiyan disaster, which centered on Tacloban and Eastern Samar. Last April, Ride4Hope was able to help raise funds to buy roofing materials for a day care center in Barangay Calizo.

In cooperation with Baligyaan Aklanon, a foundation based in Aklan, Ride for Hope 5 aims to help by raising at least PhP10,000 to buy a weaving loom or a similar device so that the survivors can have a means to support themselves. In this way, the recovery of the communities will be a self-sustaining endeavor that is not dependent on dole-outs and outside aid.

Completing the goal of this edition of the Ride series is made even more important not only because of my personal recollection of the disaster and its aftermath, but because of frustration with the government's inability to bring help where it is needed the most.

In this regard, I implore you, dear reader, to help us, the Riders, to raise the needed amount. You can be part of this effort by either pledging a one-time amount, or on a per-kilometer basis (such as P1.00 per kilometer). This amount can be deposited to a designated account and will be issued a proper acknowledgement receipt.

Be assured your support will not languish in some government warehouse, as our partner in Aklan, Ms. Nina Candelario, realizes our plans and documents the ongoing effort to restore normalcy in the lives of the survivors.

Do say a prayer for our Riders as well, as we go beyond our comfort zones and channel our passion for riding into something worthwhile and productive. Pray for the safety of our Riders (one of whom had his bike stolen two days before our upcoming ride), good health, and provision for our needs. Pray as well for Divine protection to keep our bikes functioning properly, for good weather, and for safety on the road.

God bless you.

Ride for Hope 5 is proudly supported by Bisikleta Republika, our official sponsor and parts supplier.