Ride for Refuge takes a different turn
ELMIRA, ON—A one-day cycling event to raise money for refugees has grown to become its own charitable organization.
The newly renamed Ride for Refuge (RIDE, formerly Ride for Refugees) helps churches and ministries raise money to support displaced, vulnerable and exploited people all over the world.
Initially an International Teams fundraiser to raise support for refugees, Ride for Refugees began in 2004 with 25 cyclists and a handful of volunteers. That year the event raised $25,000.
The idea caught on and each year the event grew with more riders, more locations in Canada and the U.S. and more money raised.
In 2009, more than 3,600 cyclists raised $862,000. There were more than 300 teams registered as well as 100 organizations participating in the RIDE's Partner Grant Program, which supplies churches with the financial resources to serve refugees locally as well as internationally.
This year RIDE hopes to attract 6,000 riders and raise $1.5 million for more than 200 charities and church ministries.
"This year, teams can allocate 60 per cent of what they raise to the ministry of their choice that serves the displaced, vulnerable and exploited. If a recipient organization raises $25,000 or more they can keep 70 per cent," says director of development Mika Takamaki.
"We organize and pay for a fundraiser designed to help churches and ministries fund their work. Teams don't have to invest any money, take any risk, or organize an event. They're able to spend all their time recruiting team captains, riders, and raising money.
"We value our partnership with churches and agencies and we really felt God's calling share with them by helping to fund their amazing work," says Takamaki who has been involved with RIDE since 2007.
The largest organized RIDE takes place October 2 in Waterloo with more than 1,500 riders. Another RIDE, hosted by Lakeside Church, takes place in Guelph the same day.
The Lakeside Runners team will raise funds for their church's international mission projects, including The Lakeside Girls Refuge: a safe home in Peru for abused pregnant teens and their babies.
"RIDE is a well run event that allows us to go out and raise funds for our local and international mission projects," says team captain Cameron Millar. "It's a fun day for all from beginner riders to the more serious rider and overall has become a great family event.
"We're hosting (it) for the Guelph community because of our location allows greater participation within the community to raise funds for local refuge programs in the City of Guelph."
While still involved with RIDE in a governance and operations role this year, International Teams has released Ride for Refuge to operate under new charitable oversight, which will allow RIDE to grow and develop. The organization hopes to be fully independent by the end of 2011.
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