-by David Harrity, Halethorpe, Maryland : November 7, 2009: What's the point of riding around in a circle? Over 30 students and parents learned why by gathering with team members from Adventures for the Cure cycling team on Sunday, October 25, for a 4-hour bike-a-thon, which circled around the 11-mile mile BWI Trail. The result was netting over $5,000 in charitable donations from friends, family and supporters from the Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) campaign.
Roberto Irias (center, pictured above) speaks to parents, students and riders before leading them in prayer at the start of the AACS Bike-a-thon.
The bike-a-thon was organized by Rob Irias who coaches the AACS Junior Varsity soccer team. Irias teaches Spanish and the Bible at AACS. Irias said, "I had never organized a bike-a-thon before and decided to do it, in hopes of teaching my players what it means to serve." Irias who is also a member of the AFC cycling team member was asked how the idea got started. Irias replied, "I know that I love to bike and I'm sure the idea began on one of my early morning rides. I said to myself: "What if I have my guys get sponsors that will give them money for every mile they bike?" I mentioned this in passing in one of my soccer practices and I saw a spark in their eyes. The challenge of biking many miles with a group of friends proved appealing to my teenage guys."
The charitable donations have been forwarded to Kupenda for the Children to raise funds mostly for Eric Pembe (pictured before and after surgery), a young Kenyan man with Albinism who is suffering from a severe case of skin cancer that requires immediate chemotherapy and subsequent medical treatments. Irias stated, "As far as Kupenda and Erick, I consider myself blessed to be part of Adventures for the Cure. It was through them that the avenue was opened and we all (my team and I) became aware of the need that Erick had and still has." Additional funds will go to support general needs of Kupenda to support children with disabilities."
I asked Rob if his students enjoyed the ride, Irias replied "My guys kept saying what a great time they had. They had feelings of accomplishment both physically and spiritually as they knew that what they had done is going to have an eternal impact. Let's just say that AFC is well know at AACS, and it's not just because of me."
Cynthia Bauer, founder of Kupenda for the Children is a Baltimore native now living in the Boston, Mass., area and is a long-time friend of Adventures for the Cure founders Adam Driscoll and Patrick Blair. Kupenda and Adventures for the Cure often combine their fundraising efforts to raise support for children with disabilities as documented in the award-winning film, Adventures for the Cure: The Doc. On December 3, the documentary film will be shown in a Bicycle Film Festival sponsored by Bicycle Stations, located at 204 14th St. N.W., Washington, DC.
About Annapolis Area Christian School
Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS), founded in 1971, is an independent, Christian day school that concentrates on preparing students for college and for life; that has grown into a robust community of learning that is setting the standard for Christian education in the Baltimore/Washington corridor; whose faculty engages students in a rigorous college preparatory program of learning that is enhanced with electives and extracurricular activities; that stresses basic academic skills and an appreciation of the arts; whose aim is to graduate servant leaders who will represent Jesus Christ faithfully in the world; and whose graduates have been accepted at and have graduated from many of the nation's leading colleges, universities, and military academies. Visit http://www.aacsonline.org/.
About Kupenda for the Children
Kupenda for the Children is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Christian-based organization that exists to meet the needs of children, with disabilities. Ultimately the goal is that these children will feel that they are loved and accepted.
Kupenda for the Children meets this mission through advocacy and sponsorship of school fees, child assistance and medical intervention, construction of special needs facilities, and the coordination of volunteer assistance. Kupenda serves children with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, deafness, deformed or missing limbs, spina bifida, the effects of polio, visual impairment, Downs' syndrome, autism, epilepsy, and other physical and mental disabilities. To learn more, visit http://www.kupenda.org/.
About Adventures for the Cure
Adventures For The Cure (AFC), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and USA Cycling club which exists to raise awareness for diabetes, to show those diagnosed with diabetes and their families how leading a healthy and active lifestyle can move you beyond your perceived limits, and to raise funds for diabetes research. The organization also raises awareness and funds for other causes that the board of directors has selected. For more details, visit http://adventuresforthecure.com/.
Roberto Irias (center, pictured above) speaks to parents, students and riders before leading them in prayer at the start of the AACS Bike-a-thon.
The bike-a-thon was organized by Rob Irias who coaches the AACS Junior Varsity soccer team. Irias teaches Spanish and the Bible at AACS. Irias said, "I had never organized a bike-a-thon before and decided to do it, in hopes of teaching my players what it means to serve." Irias who is also a member of the AFC cycling team member was asked how the idea got started. Irias replied, "I know that I love to bike and I'm sure the idea began on one of my early morning rides. I said to myself: "What if I have my guys get sponsors that will give them money for every mile they bike?" I mentioned this in passing in one of my soccer practices and I saw a spark in their eyes. The challenge of biking many miles with a group of friends proved appealing to my teenage guys."
The charitable donations have been forwarded to Kupenda for the Children to raise funds mostly for Eric Pembe (pictured before and after surgery), a young Kenyan man with Albinism who is suffering from a severe case of skin cancer that requires immediate chemotherapy and subsequent medical treatments. Irias stated, "As far as Kupenda and Erick, I consider myself blessed to be part of Adventures for the Cure. It was through them that the avenue was opened and we all (my team and I) became aware of the need that Erick had and still has." Additional funds will go to support general needs of Kupenda to support children with disabilities."I asked Rob if his students enjoyed the ride, Irias replied "My guys kept saying what a great time they had. They had feelings of accomplishment both physically and spiritually as they knew that what they had done is going to have an eternal impact. Let's just say that AFC is well know at AACS, and it's not just because of me."
Cynthia Bauer, founder of Kupenda for the Children is a Baltimore native now living in the Boston, Mass., area and is a long-time friend of Adventures for the Cure founders Adam Driscoll and Patrick Blair. Kupenda and Adventures for the Cure often combine their fundraising efforts to raise support for children with disabilities as documented in the award-winning film, Adventures for the Cure: The Doc. On December 3, the documentary film will be shown in a Bicycle Film Festival sponsored by Bicycle Stations, located at 204 14th St. N.W., Washington, DC.
About Annapolis Area Christian School
Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS), founded in 1971, is an independent, Christian day school that concentrates on preparing students for college and for life; that has grown into a robust community of learning that is setting the standard for Christian education in the Baltimore/Washington corridor; whose faculty engages students in a rigorous college preparatory program of learning that is enhanced with electives and extracurricular activities; that stresses basic academic skills and an appreciation of the arts; whose aim is to graduate servant leaders who will represent Jesus Christ faithfully in the world; and whose graduates have been accepted at and have graduated from many of the nation's leading colleges, universities, and military academies. Visit http://www.aacsonline.org/.
About Kupenda for the Children
Kupenda for the Children is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Christian-based organization that exists to meet the needs of children, with disabilities. Ultimately the goal is that these children will feel that they are loved and accepted.
Kupenda for the Children meets this mission through advocacy and sponsorship of school fees, child assistance and medical intervention, construction of special needs facilities, and the coordination of volunteer assistance. Kupenda serves children with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, deafness, deformed or missing limbs, spina bifida, the effects of polio, visual impairment, Downs' syndrome, autism, epilepsy, and other physical and mental disabilities. To learn more, visit http://www.kupenda.org/.
About Adventures for the Cure
Adventures For The Cure (AFC), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and USA Cycling club which exists to raise awareness for diabetes, to show those diagnosed with diabetes and their families how leading a healthy and active lifestyle can move you beyond your perceived limits, and to raise funds for diabetes research. The organization also raises awareness and funds for other causes that the board of directors has selected. For more details, visit http://adventuresforthecure.com/.
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