Ride:Well Tour

A few friends of mine who also happen to be alumni of North Central University in Minneapolis, MN started a mission about a decade ago to help people benefit the world and discover their soul.

At the time they were not even close to proficient bike riders, but they came up with a brilliant idea: gather a team of crazy young adults to ride bicycles across the country to raise awareness for and hold benefits to raise money for the needs of the poor around the world. For years, Venture Expeditions has been doing just that, and they are turning more and more heads towards the great injustices of the world.

Ride:well tour is taking place this summer along with a dozen other rides, including some in other countries of the world. Ride:well tour has probably gotten the most press this summer, and let me just say that hardly any group I know does as good of a job making charity work look as cool as these guys. Last summer they partnered with Donald Miller (who wrote a book about his cross-country ride with them) and Jars of Clay's Blood:water Mission to provide clean water wells for those in poverty-stricken areas of Africa. The UN reports that the #1 cause of infant mortality in the world is unsafe drinking water. And only a small percentage of the world has access to clean, drinking water. Other artists and authors having jumped on the bandwagon for this tour. This summer Ride:well tour has been mentioned on Starbucks twitter account several times already (to nearly a million caffeinated followers). Facebook causes team has written a blog about their ride and they have connected with World Vision a bit as well. They have also been featured several times in Relevant Magazine.

Another tour happening right now is Just+Hope Tour with a team riding from Seattle to New York City to raise awareness and funds to free sex slaves in Thailand. Their Minneapolis benefit was Saturday night, July 17, 2010 at the Overflow Cafe in Minneapolis from 7-10pm and featured local artists and the riders. We interviewed them on 95.3 Praise FM as well. Check the tours out and be a part - who knows, you may just end up on a bike someday yourself.