Bike the Whiteshell: Manitoban's Pedaling for AIDs Crisis in Africa

Mennonite Central Committee
Saturday, 3 June 2000

On June 24 & 25, 100 cyclists will be riding in Mennonite Central Committee's (MCC) fifth annual "Bike the Whiteshell". Over the past 4 years, the cyclists have raised funds for Bombie removal project in Laos; Agriculture and Reforestation work in Haiti, medications for Leukemia in Iraq; and building houses in Bangladesh. This year, the cyclists are raising money in support of the work being done to fight AIDs in Africa: education, training counselors, hospice and health care, and work with orphans. MCC is working with AIDs in 10 different African countries.

Reports on the impact of AIDs, especially in Africa, suggest that AIDs has now outstripped malaria and war in creating a new kind of killing field. Several specific factors are to blame for the spread of the disease on the African continent. Life style issues play a major role, but some of the forces that affect life style are lack of education, poverty and armed conflict. More than 20% of the population of Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland are carrying the disease.

Lydia, a Ugandan woman says "I have lost four uncles, one brother, one sister and her husband and one niece. Currently another of my sisters, her husband and another brother are all ill." Lydia's mother nursed all of these people through their illness, and is now caring for Lydia's sister. Most who died were teachers, two uncles were lawyers, one an architect and one a hotel owner. The extended family invested much in their education and they were expected to assist in return. Suzanne Matale works for the Christian Council of Churches in Zambia. She relates that children are often moved from one relative to another as their parents and other family members die off. Matale's uncle, for example, lost five children - all suspected of dying from AIDs related causes. The uncle and aunt were left to cope with 21 surviving grandchildren.

Mennonite Central Committee is the relief, service and development agency of North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. MCC shows God's love through committed men and women who work with people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disaster.

The cyclists ranging in age from 11 - 70 will be pedaling just over 105 kms from Fort Alexander to Lake Nutimik in the Whiteshell on Saturday, June 24 (Hwy # 11 and # 307). The group will be staying overnight at Camp Nutimik and hearing some stories about the AIDs crisis in Africa, particularly southern Africa. Kathleen Rempel Boschman, who has spent several years in Botswana, working with AIDs, will be speaking to the group. Sunday morning the cyclists will be continuing along Highway #307, covering close to another 50 kms, reaching the end at Brereton Lake, where local cottage owners will be hosting a BBQ.

Please call 261-6381 if you have further questions.

For information specific to MCC Manitoba and their programs, MCC Manitoba maintains a web site at http://www.mccm.mb.ca for all Manitoba churches and interested individuals.

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org