Article in Local Paper

Flamborough Review
Cyclists pedal to fight poverty
By Dianne Cornish
Sports
Jun 06, 2008

Although separated by an age difference of more than 35 years, Margaret DeWeerd and Hilena Zylstra have a common passion: the two Flamborough women want to make a difference in the cycle of poverty that has gripped many parts of the world.
Their desire led them to sign up last fall for the Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour, the largest cross-continental tour ever. Beginning June 28 in Seattle, Washington and ending August 30 in Jersey City, the 6,000-kilometre (3,750-mile) ride will feature 216 riders, 111 of them, Canadian.
The ride, presented by the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), hopes to raise $1.5 million to help the world's poor. Each rider is committed to raising $10,000 for the cause.
"The funds we raise are not for the cost of the trip. There are corporate sponsors that cover those costs," explained 60-year-old DeWeerd of Waterdown. "Every penny we raise goes to the poverty initiative."
Helping erase the cycle of poverty is a big motivator for Zylstra. The 24-year-old Waterdown resident said she feels strongly about raising money for the poor "because I am so blessed." She feels fortunate that she is in a position to help. "To be able to help others is a privilege."
While acknowledging that covering an average of 110 kilometres (68 miles) a day during her nine-week cycle ride will be quite a physical challenge, Zylstra said, "My biggest fear all along is the fundraising aspect."
She has sent out letters and made telephone calls to family and friends, and members of her church family at Bethel Christian Reformed Church on Kerns Road have been "very supportive." But both she and DeWeerd are still looking for donations to meet their goal. They're confident their objective is within reach and that people and businesses will come through as they have for past ventures.
People came through in a big way when DeWeerd's husband, Joe, took part in an eight-week bike tour from Vancouver to Guelph in the summer of 2005. He and other riders raised close to $ 1 million in support of building new CRCs across Canada. Mrs. DeWeerd joined him for four weeks of the tour, not to cycle but to serve as a volunteer cook.
"I saw it was such a neat experience three years ago, I decided to try to do it," she said. "It's also a personal challenge," she said of the tour, adding that she's thankful for the support and encouragement of her husband and family.
"I also believe in the cause. I want to make people aware of poverty and what we can hopefully do to alleviate it," she added.
DeWeerd will be joining the tour about halfway through in Denver, Colo., while Zylstra has signed up for the whole trip. Both women have been training seriously since they signed up.
A hobby cyclist for the past 10 years, DeWeerd said she didn't become "a serious cyclist" until last fall. She bought a Trek road bike at Christmas and has been training rigorously ever since. Five times a week, she takes spin classes and weight training at the Flamborough YMCA. "The more training, the better shape I am in."
Zylstra has also adopted an ambitious training program. She bought a Lemonde road bike last October and cycles 15 kilometres to work most days, as well as about 100 kilometres on weekend rides through the Flamborough countryside.
She also rides the bikes at Runner's Den, takes karate two nights a week and plays squash at McMaster University once a week.
Even though she and other cyclists will be on the road for about six hours a day before reaching a 'tent city' in a farmer's field where riders will spend most nights, DeWeerd said it's important to keep everything in perspective. "It's not a race. There will be time to stop to smell the roses along the way."
DeWeerd and Zylstra will be among the 192 cyclists scheduled to spend the night of August 22 at Redeemer University College in Ancaster during a four-day portion of the tour through parts of Ontario.
To learn more about the bike ride or make a donation, contact the women at hilenazylstra@hotmail.com or jmdeweerd@cogeco.ca or see the registered cyclists listed on the tour's website at www.SeatoSea.org. Donors can also call 1-888-272-2453 or send cheques payable to Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour, P.O. Box 5070, Stn LCD1, Burlington, Ont. L7R 3Y8.
Area residents are also invited to share DeWeerd's personal thoughts about the trip by visiting her blog at http://margaretsc2c.blog-spot.com.
Funds generated from the tour will be used to support initiatives that range from trying to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa to programs that help poor farmers improve their crop yields in Central America. The primary agencies that carry out these projects are: the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, the Christian Reformed World Missions, Partners Worldwide and churches and para-church organizations involved in ministry with and for the poor.