BIKING THROUGH AFRICA

                    AID FOR AFRICA

Cheer on Gene Garver as he participates in the world’s longest and most challenging bicycle race, from Cairo to Cape Town, this coming January-May. He will be part of the Tour d’Afrique, traveling up the Nile from Egypt into Sudan, up the Blue Nile into Ethiopia, through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, stopping at Victoria Falls, and then across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. 7,000 miles in four months, with climbs totaling over 25 miles.

Gene, who teaches philosophy at Saint John’s University in Minnesota, celebrated his 50th birthday by biking from Seattle to Tijuana; he learned to swim so he could do triathlons for his 60th, but couldn't wait until he is 70 for this challenge. For Gene’s other life as a philosophy professor, go to http://faculty.csbsju.edu/egarver.

During the ride, the Tour d’Afrique website, http://www.tourdafrique.com/, will offer almost daily updates and so will let you follow Gene’s progress from Cairo to Cape Town. You can also check this page for periodic updates and photos. Pat Ross of the St Cloud River Runners has become my webmaster, so the easiest way to get updates is by putting that address in your favorites. http://www.scrr.org/Gene%20Garver's%20Trip.htm

Although Gene is paying his own way, you can give your support to people who really need it by donating to the American Refugee Committee, which does outstanding work in several African countries.

Any donation is welcome. But if you could give a penny a mile, that would be $70.00 of money very well spent. (And tax deductible.) Your 2 cents worth amounts to $140.00. If that’s too much, give what you can. If you can afford more, give more. Anyone giving $100 or more can have a day of the race dedicated in their name, or anyone else’s name. Just pick a date or a country.

You can send your donations directly to the American Refugee Committee by going to their website http://www.arcrelief.org/, where you can find out more about the great work they do. Donations made in Gene’s honor will be earmarked for their extraordinary work in Africa. For a direct link to donations in his name, click here: www.arcrelief.org/genegarverdonations

Any questions, write to egarver@csbsju.edu.

For photos I’m able to upload as I go, click on genegarverinafrica/

Here’s a map of the

route: