The What, Why, & How of Sea to Sea

What

This summer, I will ride my bike across North America with the Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour. This is not just any bike tour but the largest cross-continental tour ever.

Presented by the Christian Reformed Church, the Sea to Sea tour begins June 28 in Seattle and will end August 30 in Jersey City, covering nearly 3,700 miles! Sea to Sea not only allows me to exercise my passion for cycling, but to speak out about my other passion, which is to make a sizable impact to end poverty.

Why

Even though this bike tour will be exciting and challenging, my main reason for participating with Sea to Sea is to raise awareness and donations to help those in poverty, specifically the poorest of the poor, or those whose basic human needs are not met.

Over the last few years, my view of poverty has changed significantly. I saw that many people do not have the means, no matter how hard they try, to improve their situation. It is true some people are poor because of mistakes they have made, but many live in poverty that they can not escape by their own means.

How

There are several ways that I will help to eliminate poverty by participating in the Sea to Sea Bike Tour. I am raising money for four CRC partners: Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), Christian Re-formed World Missions, Partners Worldwide, and the CRC Foundation, which will grant money to ministries serving the poor. My goal is to raise $10,000. I am also raising awareness and knowledge through tour publicity and by encouraging others to learn more about poverty.

What You Can Do

How can you get involved? You can:

• Help me reach my financial goal by making a tax-deductible gift in my name to the Sea to Sea Bike Tour.
• Come to one of the 12 Celebrations during the tour. Nine of them are listed in the table on the right (for example, Seattle on June 29, Kennewick on July 6). In addition, rallies will also be held in Sioux Center, Iowa (Aug. 5), Palos Heights, Ill. (Aug. 12) and Wyckoff, NJ (Aug. 30).
• Volunteer as a support crew member
• Pray for those in poverty and for the tour
• Be thankful for our many blessings
• For more information go to: www.SeatoSea.org
  

To Make a Gift

To make a tax-deductible gift, go to www.SeatoSea.org or send a check made out to Sea to Sea Bike Tour (with “For cyclist Ad de Blaeij” in the memo line) and send it to:
Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour
2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560

(Canadians should use this address:)
PO Box 5070 Stn LCD 1
Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8