Ernie Engbrecht, Phil Klassen and Abe Janzen, working through details of the Relief Sale auction.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Auctioning off the Oringa that Joseph gave to me
The first auction item was a beaded meeting stick, or Oringa, that Joseph gave to me at the end of his year in Alberta. I spoke with Joseph on Thursday to get more details on what kind of symbolism the Oringa has among the Massai. He told me that the Oringa is a stick that has been beaded from the bottom to the top, with colourful glass beads, and is used in community gatherings and celebrations as a symbol of peace. The Oringa is never to be used in a meeting where conflict or violence may occur. If the Oringa is used for violence, then the glass beads will break. And when violence happens in a community, then the community begins to break. The chief holds the Oringa and greets and addresses the crowd, and the Oringa is a respected symbol of peace. The Oringa fetched $900 in the auction!
Some photos from the bike-a-thon and Relief Sale
Three generations of riders from the Schellenberg family, and Cindy...honourary Schellenberg!
Adam, Cindy and John
1451 kms were cycled by John and Adam, 90 of those with Cindy Klassen and about 60 others. A total of $181,000 raised for Cycle South for AIDS, and an additional $20, 130 raised through the bike-a-thon...grand total of $201,130 for MCC's Generations Program! What an amazing thing to be a part of and to celebrate!
Cycle South for AIDS, Cindy Klassen and the Coaldale Relief Sale
The perfect storm! After yesterday's stormy ride from Nanton to Lethbridge in up to 70 plus km winds and rain, today's ride from Lethbridge to Coaldale (11 km), and the following bike-a-thon routes of 10 km, 45 km, and 90 km, was a breeze! Add to that an Olympic gold medalist by the name of Cindy Klassen, an incredible Relief Sale with amazing auction items, food, and people, and today was the perfect storm! Cindy arrived in Coaldale around 11:00 am, to the delight of volunteers, MCCA staff, media and onlookers. Shaw TV, Global TV, and the Lethbridge Herald were all there, and interviewed Adam, John and Cindy. And then the pictures began with Cindy...over and over and over...and she is such a kind and gracious person and obliged anyone that approached her. She brought so much energy and excitement to the bike-a-thon and the sale. There were 62 riders today, and a total of $20,103 was raised! Add this to the $181,000 for Cycle South, and we are now at $201,130 for the Generations Program! Amazing!
So, this part of the journey comes to a close. It's kind of sad in a way. It has been a lot of fun being a part of the support driving team for Adam and John. Watching their determination riding through terrible head winds, rain, hills...up and down, and down and up...has been nothing short of inspiring. Their efforts have raised the profile of the crisis of AIDS, and MCC's work with partners worldwide. We are all so proud of them. It has been a privilege to be a part of this.
A heads up...there is talk that Cycle South for AIDS will be repeated next year, only it may become Cycle East for AIDS, from Alberta to Manitoba...and if we can work it around Cindy Klassen's schedule, then she will be joining the riders! Stay tuned! And thank you to everyone for reading the blog, for supporting Cycle South with good wishes, prayers, and donations. The money raised will make a huge difference in the lives of so many affected by AIDS. Our hope and prayer is that we will all take our place and do what we can, where we can, with what we have.
Kim
So, this part of the journey comes to a close. It's kind of sad in a way. It has been a lot of fun being a part of the support driving team for Adam and John. Watching their determination riding through terrible head winds, rain, hills...up and down, and down and up...has been nothing short of inspiring. Their efforts have raised the profile of the crisis of AIDS, and MCC's work with partners worldwide. We are all so proud of them. It has been a privilege to be a part of this.
A heads up...there is talk that Cycle South for AIDS will be repeated next year, only it may become Cycle East for AIDS, from Alberta to Manitoba...and if we can work it around Cindy Klassen's schedule, then she will be joining the riders! Stay tuned! And thank you to everyone for reading the blog, for supporting Cycle South with good wishes, prayers, and donations. The money raised will make a huge difference in the lives of so many affected by AIDS. Our hope and prayer is that we will all take our place and do what we can, where we can, with what we have.
Kim
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Menno Simons Christian School and MCCA Cycle South for AIDS
Day 10 was awesome! John, Adam, Abe and I (along with Iliana Friesen, Pholani Dlamini, Hun Ryu and Michael Harms...MCCA staff and IVEPers), met at Menno Simons school at 8:30 this morning. There was a 45 minute chapel with the junior high students and staff, focused entirely on MCC's work with HIV/AIDS, and the Cycle South for AIDS with John and Adam. Abe interviewed John and Adam, and Pholani (IVEPer at MCCA) for the students. We watched a really powerful 30 minute documentary called "Living With Slim," which focuses on 7 children/youth from different countries in Africa, who are all HIV+. Very compelling movie, and it gave the kids and staff a real sense of the urgency of raising awareness and money for HIV/AIDS. After the chapel we posed for some shots with the whole group, donned our helmets and set off on a 40 km ride on beautiful Calgary bike trails. A few delays along the way...rain, a minor bike accident, and a flat tire for Adam (first one in over 1000 kms)...thanks Anne and Iliana for saving the day!! We ended at Fish Creek Park in south Calgary, enjoyed a hot dog roast together, and then John and Adam continued on for an additional 76 kms, ending in Nanton, AB.
Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day for John and Adam. Both are very happy to NOT ride their bikes tomorrow. Thursday morning we drive out to Nanton, and then they hit the road one last time for Coaldale, about 135 kms.
The goal of raising $170,000 for MCC's Generations Program has been surpassed and is now over $176,000 and counting. A big, big shout out to Kennedy Krahn, a student at Menno Simons, who has been raising money and awareness for the Generations Program for the past few years! Today she presented us with yet another great donation...her savings from her piggy bank...$40.38...thank you Kennedy!!! Every single donation counts and makes a difference in people's lives around the world!
Kim
Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day for John and Adam. Both are very happy to NOT ride their bikes tomorrow. Thursday morning we drive out to Nanton, and then they hit the road one last time for Coaldale, about 135 kms.
The goal of raising $170,000 for MCC's Generations Program has been surpassed and is now over $176,000 and counting. A big, big shout out to Kennedy Krahn, a student at Menno Simons, who has been raising money and awareness for the Generations Program for the past few years! Today she presented us with yet another great donation...her savings from her piggy bank...$40.38...thank you Kennedy!!! Every single donation counts and makes a difference in people's lives around the world!
Kim
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)