News Release:

Go Grannies Go! Island Grannies Pedal for African Grannies

More than a dozen Canadian grandmothers will bicycle across Salt Spring Island during a 265-kilometre journey that will take them from Campbell River to Victoria on September 7 to 9. The event will raise awareness and funds for African grandmothers who have lost children to HIV/AIDS and are now raising grandchildren alone.

The cyclists will pass through Courtenay, Parksville, Nanaimo, Chemainus, Salt Spring Island and the Saanich Peninsula before arriving on Sept. 9, International Grandparents Day, at 3:30 p.m. at Victoria’s Centennial Park.

During the three days, literally millions of African grandmothers will be nursing sons and daughters dying of AIDS, mourning children lost to AIDS, and caring for orphaned grandchildren. “We wanted to do something that wasn’t easy to show support and raise money for the African grandmothers. At the same time, this trip will be a challenge for us for only three days, just a fraction of the challenge these African grandmothers face every day of their lives,” said Carol Judd, one of the events organizers.

Individual riders will pay their own participation costs in the ride. Funds they raise will go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF), a charitable organization dedicated to easing the pain of AIDS in Africa.

Stephen Lewis was the United Nations Special Envoy for Africa for over five years. Lewis’s despair at witnessing the devastation from AIDS moved him to start the SLF, which funds more than 150 projects in sub-Saharan Africa. The grassroots projects provide school fees and uniforms, grief counselling and other social support, and coffins to allow for dignified burials of loved ones. Ninety per cent of funds raised go directly to projects because the foundation draws a wealth of volunteer support.

“Most of us can’t imagine the devastation AIDS has caused,” said Salt Spring Islander, Marion Pape, who has been training for the ride. “African grandmothers and their grandchildren have to live with the effects of the disease every day, with little or no support or income. We need to do whatever we can to make their lives and those of their grandchildren a little easier.”

Victoria Grandmothers for Africa, one of nearly 200 grandmother groups across Canada raising funds for African grandmothers by supporting the SLF though its Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, is organizing the event. The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, launched in March 2006, is dedicated to the unsung heroes of Africa, its grandmothers struggling to raise about half a million AIDS orphans (a number expected to grow to 18-20 million by 2010). Most of them are living in poverty and some of the grandmothers and grandchildren are suffering with AIDS themselves.

The tour will arrive in Vesuvius at 8:50 a.m. on Sept. 9 on the ferry from Crofton. Islanders are being urged to support the grandmothers by coming out and riding along into Ganges, then stopping in for a coffee and muffins at the Seniors for Seniors Centre across from Ganges Village Market and if possible, even accompanying the riders on to Fulford.

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In training to keep up with the grannies when they get here, today I rode my bike the furtherest I have in a very long while. Time for an epsom salt soak ...

Just wanted to share this email exchange from today. The principals are Gary, SOLID founder, and SOLID's Peace Corp volunteer friend Jean. Greg some of you may remember from the videos when we presented our Gardeners of Hope proposal on O'net last year.

Fwd: Newsflash from jean re Pitseng.

Just talked to Mamello and everyone at Ha Makhata is well. I can't add anything to this, i'm just sharing this email for now. Gary

Hey guys,

I'm sure you are aware of the bad news in Pitseng. Greg reports that over 27 students have been hospitalized and a few confirmed deaths. Molapo has also been affected. Please make sure that you (and your children) are inoculated for meningitis - or that you guys stay away from hotbeds. Serious thing - fatality super high and those that survive have 30% chance of permanent brain damage. I know that Peace Corp Medical is contacting all Leribe volunteers. I'm worried about you guys!!!! Take care and stay healthy!!! I've attached some information for you to share: Understanding Meningitis -- the Basics WebMD Medical Reference [...] Jean

:(

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that. What utterly horrible news.

Thanks, Mark. The good news for the moment is that everyone at HaMakhata is well.

I started putting together a workspace page for planning the Fall Fair booth.

Please let me know what time slots you can volunteer for, needs you can take on or other suggestions for making this a $ucce$$ful Fall Fair.

My Medowbrook ladies and me.

The "Knitt Witts" wearing their creations.

Would be nice if we could build these in to a poster for the Fall Fair. We'll be selling the knitted hats and school bags they've made to help raise funds to send the container to Lesotho.

Today was the Grandmothers for Africa Ride on SaltSpring Island. Met them at the Vesuvius ferry and rode with them in to town to the Senior's for Seniors club house and a breakfast put on by our own "Ragging Grannies". You don't know humble until you've been passed on a hill by a blue hair with three grown grandchildren.

Welcomed to Senior's for Seniors for breakfast.

Ragging Grannies Sing!

Breakfast

Riding out again. I only went as far as town and waved them on their way. They will end up in Victoria today at the parliament buildings.

They announced at breakfast that so far they have raised $11,000.00 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Way to go Grannies!!!

Oldest rider 78, youngest 59 ... they didn't include us tag-a-longs.

Just wanted to share this event that is being put on by positively Africa! (a SOLID partner) and Swaziland for Positive Living. Saturday, September 22, 2007 in the Vancity Building, 183 Main Street, 4-6pm, by donation.

If you know of anyone in Vancouver or surrounding area that might be interested in attending the event please pass this along.

I love this Meron. So energizing and full of life. As a grannie, I approve!!

So sorry to hear about the meningitis report as well. ARGH!

Go Meron! Go Grannies! Love it!

Thanks Patricia,

Looking forward to your participation at <ned> and finding ways for ways for SOLID and One World Children's Fund to collaborate.

Fall Fair Updates:

Mom was in at GVM yesterday and they gave her three bags of sugar so that's done! They also volunteered to supply us with the balloons we'll need to decorate the booth. They'll have helium so should be picked up Saturday morning before the fair.

Mom is also willing to do quick card readings as "Zelda" for a donation ($10?). Does anyone have a small decorative tent that we could set her up in?

check out other needs on the SOLID Blackboard and to sign up for time slots during the fair. We should have at least 3 people on hand for each time slot.

Just got this update on the cycling grandmas from Peggy of positively AFRICA!

Hi Meron,

I met them at the Square in Victoria and they were amazing and grateful for the welcome that SSI gave them.

Wonderful !

I wrote what I copied below and submitted it by email to the Time Colonist but if you want to amend it for the Gulf Islands Driftwood let me know.

And I can't figure out NED. Thick in the head I guess.

Love - peg

Yesterday tears fell as I watched a proud group of cyclists enter Centenial Square. They were grandmothers pushing their pedals from Cambell River to Victoria to raise awareness about the situation for grandmothers in Africa. The average age was 65. Grandmothers here were experiencing three days of physical discomfort in solidarity with African grannies. In Africa, these respected citizens are wracking their brains and their bodies to ensure that their orphaned grandchildren can eat and go to school. The cyclists had amazing things to say, but most people in Victoria missed it. They pointed out that cycling grannies could help, but even with celebrity activists and rich philanthropists they can’t alleviate global poverty. We need governments committed to providing meaningful assistance to countries where poverty is the norm. Disease is so prevalent that every African family knows AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

The Global Fund to fight these three deadly diseases needs $6 to $8 billion per year. The cycling grannies raised about $15,000. In the past year and a half, the Product RED campaign started by U2's Bono has contributed $36 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - about $500 million over five years. Philanthropy and cycling grandmothers are not enough. We need government leadership. It is time to reach a Lester B. Pearson goal and set total foreign aid spending at 0.7 per cent of gross national income.

Peg Frank positively AFRICA!

One of SOLID's new board members, Margery Moore founder of I-SEA (Institute for Sustainability, Education and Action), will be hosting a book launch of "To the Rescue: Protecting British Columbia's Rich Biodiversity" on September 27th, Thursday, 7pm at I-SEA for a presentation, discussion and wine/cheese with Lindsay Coulter from the David Suzuki Foundation.

I can not remember volunteering to tell fortunes but I guess that I am in. I seem to remember that you were known as Zelda when you caused a small riot at McMaster University. A Freudian slip? Always knew that he/she who hesitates is bossed. Mom

~Mom said: I can not remember volunteering to tell fortunes but I guess that I am in. I seem to remember that you were known as Zelda when you caused a small riot at McMaster University. A Freudian slip? Always knew that he/she who hesitates is bossed. ~

Don't you remember, I asked you as I was bolting from the car after the legion Friday night dinner? You didn't say no, so... And about the Zelda/McMaster thing, I haven't told them about that here so shhhh!.

PS: what do you mean small riot? ; ) Don't you remember, they didn't invite me back on campus the next year :D

Our Fall Fair ad as it will appear in The Islands Marketplace as the featured Non-profit Organization of the upcoming issue.

This is just a quiet little tucking in of a note under the doorway. Meron, in reconnecting this way I'm trying to simply fall down the rabbit holes left behind by my friends, and once again I am reminded of your great humanity.

How wonderful to see so many Grannies with Gumption!!!

Thanks Meron for sharing this event. Indeed the trend of Grandmothers as the primary caregivers is worrying particularly in Africa. It is good news that they are getting recognition and support but sadly few will know of the recognition which is a form of moral support.

Thanks folks!!!

~Sue said: ... in reconnecting this way I'm trying to simply fall down the rabbit holes left behind by my friends~

Beware of the mushrooms, stray cats and wild tea parties, Alice! ; )

Great poster and newspaper ad. Love it. Zelda

Hay I finally joined up! I do not have any of the things on your list Meron as my stuff is all piled up in storage untill I come home from Africa and make a nest again. I look forward to this weekend. Lets make lots of money to get that container to Lesotho! The weather is predicted to be fantastic....right Zelda?

All the best, Heather

My friend Jennifer brought bags of good stuff to the container to-day. There was scads of wool so took it to the knit wits..very glad to get it. They are knitting up a storm. Mom

Wonderful to see you here Heather! Thanks for joining up. I know your life is a little crazy right now so I really appreciate the effort : )

Thanks for doing container duty today and keeping those Knitt Witts busy Mom.

After doing the bank transfer to Lesotho today I put together a little pile of stuff in the SOLID office that will need to make it's way up to the fair grounds on Friday. And a couple of things in my office as well. I got some of the wdydwyd? pictures from Sam B and had them laminated so we can put them up around the booth. Just thought it would be a nice touch.

If no one has a small tent we can use for Zelda maybe we could use a large umbrella if someone has one?