Riders:

You said: 54% heard about the Lake2Lake by word of mouth, 88% are likely to ride again and 97% would recommend it to a friend!
Our response: fantastic! We’d love to see you back again this year – registration opens Feb 14th. Bring a friend and check out our new Teams option.

You said: need better control when people leave at the start of each day.
Our response: this year you will enter your average cycling speed when you register and you will be started in groups, slowest to fastest.

You said: cost of accommodations at Eagle Bay Camp seems high for non-riders.
Our response: even though we have always charged overnighters what the camp charges us, we spoke with them and they reduced the overnight fee by $10!

You said: we had to move room assignments around to make sure we could stay with our friends.
Our response: make sure you register early! Priority is given for the lodge to riders by date of registration. If you have a roommate preference please enter that in the comment section when you register.

You said: more veggie options at lunch, dinner & BBQ please, and could we have food items at start line Saturday.
Our response: good idea, we have passed on your requests to Chef Todd! There will be food at the start line.

You said: it would be great to be able to communicate with others about ride sharing. Who is coming from where and needs a ride or who has room in their vehicle to take someone (or another bike).
Our response: checkout our facebook page and connect with others there.

You said: you love cycling and the idea of riding for a cause.
Our response: we encourage you to sign up as a fundraiser this year and transform education in Rwanda from the seat of your bike!

Volunteers

• 100% said they were likely to volunteer again
• 90% said they would recommend to a friend to volunteer
• 80% said they would recommend to a friend to ride

Volunteers, our riders LOVED you! 94% of our riders were very satisfied with the ride support. They also said you were wonderful, had hearts of gold, and were very encouraging! We hope you and a friend will register online for this year’s ride as a volunteer or as a rider!

It was another huge success from our perspective. The weather was amazing the whole weekend; we had many riders from previous years; there were a lot of new faces; we had a TON of volunteers to help things run smoothly; and most importantly no one got hurt…well, except for the rider who fell while trying to unclip from his pedals at the starting line.

We took tons of photos over the weekend and have shared them on our Ride for Rwanda Facebook page (high-res versions of those and more are available on Flickr). Check ‘em out!

We’re riding again next year, hoping to build on the successes of this year and would love to have you join us as a rider or volunteer. Check back for the 2013 dates early in the new year.

Thanks to all the riders, volunteers and supporters for making this year successful. You are helping us make a big impact in the lives of thousands of students in the classrooms of Gasabo District in Kigali where we are transforming education through our School Development Program.

The “Poggs” – Deb and Dave Poggemoeller – have become cyclists as a result of their passion to see children in Rwanda receive a quality education.

Dave and Deb first heard about Wellspring in the spring of 2008. A friend, Craig Fleischhacker, asked them to participate in acquiring building materials for the Wellspring Academy, a K-12 school being built in Kigali, Rwanda.

“We have a sawmill” (North Enderby Timber), states Dave, “so we had an ‘in’ for buying building materials. To begin with, we investigated how to obtain a sea-going container. We found a willing donor in Barry Siebenga of Big Steel Box out of Salmon Arm, who gave us a forty-foot container! We had a lot of fun going out and talking to people, asking if they would support us. Nearly everyone we approached said they would love to put something into the container that would help the people of Rwanda accomplish building the school.”

In the fall, after the container doors were closed and it left their property, the Poggemoellers started talking about taking their three children on an adventure. The plan was to go to Rwanda, hopefully meet the container on its arrival into the country, help unload it and perhaps do some work on the school site itself. “We wanted to see the project first hand and try and discover what other needs they might have and what use we could be,” explains Dave. Unfortunately, they were not able to greet the container but they stayed on the school site, spent time with children in their classrooms, did some touring and fell in love with the country and its people.

After returning from Rwanda, Dave and Deb have been involved in helping raise over $300,000 for the school building project (read about Raising the Roof!) and Wellspring’s Teacher Training program that is run in 41 public schools in Kigali, impacting more than 50,000 children.

“Since having visited Rwanda, we know we want to continue supporting the people of Rwanda in some way or another. Although we are worlds apart, they are still our neighbours and what we can do here can certainly help them there,” explains Dave. “We want to be a part of finishing the school and supporting the public teacher training so kids can learn to not only make good decisions in life, but to build on what they have to make a better future for themselves and their country.”

One way the Poggemoellers have chosen to continue to be involved is through the Lake2Lake bike ride. “The first year we were volunteers along the route and we were impressed with how well run the event was and by the enthusiasm of both riders and volunteers,” says Dave. “ So, last year we bought bikes in July and began to train.” Deb adds, “At first, we thought the distance was overwhelming, so we planned to do the ride as a relay with another couple. However, once we got out riding on a regular basis our confidence grew, and by the week prior to the event, we all decided to ride the entire distance – and we all finished! If anyone would like to challenge oneself while experiencing how beautiful our area really is, meet new people and have a lot of fun, we recommend this ride. There is support along the route, so if you find you need a lift part of the way it is available. Participants range in ability from serious roadies to rank beginners like us. I have just retired from soccer and have taken up cycling in its place. It is great for maintaining fitness and is a little easier on the knees!”

“Soccer is a natural complementary sport for cycling”, says Dave. “We come from the soccer community and we now cycle with a few older soccer players.”

Dave and Deb extend an invitation to everyone but issue a specific challenge to their soccer colleagues: “Join us on this year’s Lake2Lake Ride for Rwanda – have fun and raise funds for a terrific cause!” On the September 29+30 weekend they will join other cyclists for our third annual Lake2Lake Ride for Rwanda—a two-day, 220km, fully supported event from Kalamalka Lake to Eagle Bay on Shuswap Lake and back.

Would you like to be a part of this year’s Lake2Lake Ride for Rwanda?

Registration is open for Lake2Lake, register now. Riders can also register to fundraise for Wellspring by collecting pledges to complete the 220km journey. Raise $500 and receive a vibrant Team Wellspring cycling jersey (only available to fundraising riders). Raise $1200 and receive the Team Wellspring jersey plus have the ride fee covered (ride fee includes overnight accommodations).

Volunteers are also needed for ride support. More info is available on the Volunteer page. If you are interested, please contact Barb: volunteer@lake2lake.org

Ed Lifton with Wellspring Executive Director Richard Taylor just after finishing the inaugural Lake2Lake Ride for Rwanda

Ed Lifton was self-employed in the food business. Not really concerned about being involved in the community. Doing what he needed to do to keep his head above water.

Then someone encouraged him to ride in The Wellspring Foundation’s inaugural Lake2Lake Ride for Rwanda.

Ed had been riding his older steel-framed bike to work everyday and thought he should check the ride out. While researching he found out the ride was a fundraiser for the Wellspring Foundation for Education: a nonprofit working to empower the next generation of Rwandan leaders through education that transforms lives.

It impressed him. This was not just a commercial event, filling someone’s pocket at the end of it. It was to help those less fortunate, it was for something bigger than money, bigger than himself. That’s when it hit home. He had never done anything like it before.

He registered. He rode. He finished.

Ed was the oldest rider of the inaugural Lake2Lake, but that didn’t hinder him. He was supported the whole way through encouragement from other riders & volunteers. “The support team made it possible,” he stressed. Sure he went into the ride a little naive—on an older steel framed bike and with no idea of the commitment needed to go 220km—but he did it. And, he wants to encourage you to do it as well—it had a tremendous impact on his life.

“Since riding Lake2Lake, I have been motivated to make changes in my life. I was very conscious about my weight and over the winter I lost 25lbs. I’m [also] making a commitment to get involved more, to contribute to the community,” says Ed.

Ed retired a couple of weeks ago. What did he do to celebrate on the Canada Day long weekend? He went on a 2-day Kettle Valley Railway ride in the Kootenays—motivated by his experience at Lake2Lake. Lake2Lake helped him realize he could do it.

Ed is committed to riding Lake2Lake this year: “I was on the first one. Healthwise I’m feeling really good, I want to continue [riding] for many years.” Oh, and yes he’ll have a different bike this year!

Inspired by Ed? I am. Why not join us in October on the Lake2Lake Ride for Rwanda? Early Bird Deadline is July 31st!