Today’s guest post comes from Caitie Goddard. After a trip to visit relatives in Lebanon following University graduation, Caitie got the travel bug and it hasn’t let up since. American by birth, within the last 2 years Caitie has called Spain, Uganda and New Zealand home. She found that her passion lies in learning about new cultures, languages and challenges outside of her comfort zone, and she hopes to make a career in the development field inspiring others to jump in and do the same.
You may have seen something similar to this post elsewhere recently, but this really is for a great cause, and therefore deserves mentioning!
Cycling for a Cause in Vietnam
I’d have to say that traveling is an absolute passion. I love meeting new people, stepping outside of my culture (and sometimes comfort zone), and trying new things.
I’ve been fortunate to visit and live in some amazing places including Madrid, Spain; Bulenga, Uganda; and Wellington, New Zealand, and have found that more than the actual places, it is the people I meet that make the experience so worthwhile.
That certainly holds true in one of my favorite countries I’ve visited: Vietnam.
In May 2010, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Vietnam, where I visited several orphanages and schools and got to play and spend time with beautiful children. My employer, the GVN Foundation, supports these children by fundraising to provide them with nutritional programs and medical care, and to provide the salaries for physical therapists who work with severely disabled children.
One of my tasks while I was there was also to prepare for the first-ever GVN Cycling Challenge — cycling over 500 km (310 miles!) to raise funds for these gorgeous children.
Why 500 km? If you’ve ever been to Vietnam, odds are you’ve fallen in love with the people, food and beauty of the country. I certainly did, and that’s why this cycling adventure needs to be… a challenge! No one wants to donate to your time in a loungechair on the beach, and we want them to know we are serious about fundraising.
We’ll still get the beach (and a cocktail… or four), but that comes after a tough and sweaty challenge to do something perhaps out of our comfort zone for a great cause. (And if it’s not out of your comfort zone, rest assured this will certainly be something out of mine!)
We ask all participants to raise $2,000 (excluding cycling trip costs) that goes directly to the non-profit GVN Foundation to support the projects in Vietnam. Even for those where money is not an obstacle, it means so much more to go through the effort of fundraising and making people aware of what we’re doing.
The money raised by participants will go toward:
- Education and meal programs for several orphanages.
- Vietnamese teacher salaries to reduce class sizes and allow for better English lessons.
- An emergency medical fund so when children have an accident or fall sick, they do not have to wait for treatment.
- New medical equipment for children with disabilities, including wheelchairs and physiotherapy supplies to help those who need daily treatment.
Participants will challenge themselves to complete the journey in the April heat, going from Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An, an incredibly gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage City. Cycling past scenery that will make you wonder why anyone would consider driving, stops will be made to visit the orphanages we are fundraising to assist and include a lunch with the kids and staff.
The trip in Vietnam holds the same purpose as popular treks: to tackle and accomplish a difficult physical challenge. But the trip also aims to make a huge impact on the lives of the community GVN works with.
I will never forget the smiles on the kids’ faces, and I know that through this bike trip we can significantly change their lives. The children are either orphans or come from families too poor to support them. Many of the children in the surrounding area live in unsafe conditions, sometimes without adequate food, education, or even clean water.
With this trip, we will be changing the lives of over 100 Vietnamese children, giving them a chance to receive adequate nourishment and a proper education to go forward and lead the next generation toward a better life.
We currently have a few more spots open, and it would be great to get some further support from travel enthusiasts. You don’t have to be a professional rider — we will always have an air-conditioned support vehicle nearby should you need a break or want to trade in some H20 on a bike for some famous Vietnamese coffee in comfort!
If you love the taste of adventure, I’d love for any readers to consider this challenge and add it to your list of accomplishments in 2011!
For more info: Global Volunteer Network Cycling Challenge
How wonderful! A met a now good friend in Vietnam who was cycling the whole way up. Now he’s in Africa, cycling for charity! You might find his stories interesting: http://www.throughafricaforafrica.com/index.html
Connie recently posted..Montage Monday- The Kindness of Strangers
Thanks for the link! I’m by no means a cyclist, but I really admire people who do these sorts of charity rides. Such good causes.
I think that just simple sponsored cycle ride in your own country is better – but obvously its a lot more exciting and fun to go to far away places to raise money for good causes
Alison recently posted..Enjoy London Fashion Week in Style
Hi,
While you can now buy decent Japanese-made bikes in Vietnam, if you decide on a long-distance cycling holiday, you should really bring your own bike with you, not forgetting all the necessary spares and tools. Hardy mountain bikes cope best with the country’s variable surfaces, though tourers and hybrids are fine on the main roads. Bring your own helmet and a good loud bell; a rear-view mirror also comes in handy. When it all gets too much, or you want to skip between towns, you can always put your bike on the train (though not on all services; check when buying your ticket) for a small fee; take it to the station well ahead of time, where it will be packed and placed in the luggage van. Some open-tour buses will also take bikes – free if it goes in the luggage hold (packed up), otherwise you’ll have to pay for an extra seat.