Cyclists ride to raise water awareness
Middle Tennessee advocates for clean water had a chance to join a national awareness-raising bike ride Saturday, if only for a couple of hours.
The longer trip began with 18 people on June 10 in Los Angeles to bring attention to the need for cleaner water in sub-Saharan Africa. As the Ride:Well Tour team made its stop in Nashville, riders participated in a city ride, giving locals a chance to participate and help raise funds.
With the combination of the Ride:Well Tour cyclists and about 100 local cyclists, the local goal of $10,000 was met and exceeded. (story continued)
The day was scheduled to end with a benefit concert sponsored by Lightning 100 at 3rd and Lindsley featuring performances by Sixpence None The Richer and Matthew Perryman Jones.
The bicyclists who began in Los Angeles are expected to end their journey in Washington DC on July 26.
The Ride:Well Tour is a part of the organization Blood:Water Mission, founded by the band Jars of Clay.
"The purpose is to raise awareness for the water crisis in Africa," said Jena Lee Nardella, executive director for Blood:Water Mission.
Nearly every day, Africans trek miles to a well providing clean water, she said. Most of the trekkers are women and children, who are forced to skip school in order to provide for their family.
Blood:Water Mission wants to help change that with its 1,000 Wells Project. The premise behind the project is that $1 can provide clean water to an African for one year.
Nardella said diarrhea from unclean water is the No. 1 killer for African children under age 5.
While most of the riders are from the U.S., one rider is riding for an organization from his home country. Kenyan Gregg Mwendwa, who is sponsored by I Choose Life-Africa, is trekking with the cyclists to help promote the cause.
"Almost every day, people make those long trips to the wells," Mwendwa said. "I identify closely to what they feel."
Communities changing
Mwendwa's village has changed since the residents acquired a local well, giving them better lives and cleaner water, he said. The ride itself, however, has given Mwendwa a different look at America.
"Finding that America is not just about the celebrity life and entertainment life … this is a different page of America to me," he said.
Donald Miller, author of the Blue Like Jazz, his examination of Christian spirituality, is also a part of the 17-team crew. He experienced firsthand how important access to water is.
During one leg of the tour, the Ride:Well team traveled through a desert in Arizona and ran out of water. It was 100 miles to the nearest service station in 108-degree heat, and the riders had to keep their schedule. The group flagged down a car and got some water from them. "We just forget how blessed we are to have access to water," Miller said.
Miller, who has visited Africa, said the team has suffered many injuries while participating in the tour.
"It's wrist pain, headaches, numb feet," he explained, "but it's worth it."
Craig Shelburne of Nashville said he was glad he made the local trek, which took in the city's greenway.
"I was really impressed with Nashville," said Shelburne, a writer for CMT's Web site.
"I kind of wanted to do something that would make a change. It's easy to stay in bed on a Saturday morning."
Story by Darryl D. Smith ddsmith@tennessean.com.
(c) The Tennessean -2008
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