Founder Kissing a Pig!
Once again, Ben Wilson, Founder of Children of Vietnam (COV), is leading a group of dedicated cyclists to Vietnam on March 26 through March 28 to raise funds for impoverished children. Ben, who is in his mid-eighties, and his team will be pedaling nearly 100 miles over three days demonstrating their passion to give these children a helping hand so they can join Vietnam’s growing economy. The goal for the event, which is called “Cycle Out Child Poverty in Vietnam,” is to raise $140,000 and will be used to provide wraparound services for poor, disabled and ethnic minority children.
To provide inspiration, Ben is hearkening to the Vietnamese traditional Lunar Calendar. 2019 is the Year of the Pig, and Ben will Kiss a Pig in Vietnam and in the US if the $140,000 goal is reached! Like the traits of the pig in the lunar calendar, Ben wants the children and families COV serves to be carefree, full, happy, and prosperous. He wants them to be blessed with good fortune in life. You can see Ben make this pledge to Kiss a Pigat youtube.com/watch?v=NH2tUfJ0lDU.
The cyclists will pedal from Hue to DaNang through the coastal countryside, over the challenging Hai Vang Mountain Pass (about 1,640 miles above sea level) and ending by crossing over DaNang’s famous Dragon Bridge. After the ride, cyclists will be able to visit with some of the children and families receiving support. Although the trip is quite an adventure, the financial goal is critical as the children depend on this event to fund the programs that help them every day.
“Children are the foundation of the world actually,” says Ben. “No matter where they are, they are learning, have dreams and wishes, and concerns and desires to be something significant. That is our focus to give them this opportunity.” COV has been operating in Central Vietnam for 20 years with the belief that children are particularly vulnerable with little control to influence their environment, especially those living in poverty. COV’s mission is to create pathways out of poverty for disadvantaged children by addressing the multi-dimensional causes of poverty in partnership with their caring families and communities. The well being of children today and their ultimate development into productive and contributing adults is the foundation upon which poverty is alleviated for the next generation of children and the world society as a whole.
To make a donation so that Ben will Kiss a Pig visit the website (cov-cycling-out-child-poverty-2019.causevox.com/). To learn more about COV’s life-changing programs contact Nancy Letteri @ nletteri.childrenofvietnam.com.
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Solidarity Cycle-thon by Key Club
The members of the Reagan High School Key Club all have hopes and dreams to help some children halfway across the world reach their dreams, too. They are joining Children of Vietnam’s Cycling Out Child Poverty in Vietnam by organizing a solidarity Cycle-thon in support of the international team lead by Children of Vietnam Founder, Ben Wilson. The proceeds of the Cycle-thon will be donated to Children of Vietnam to help poor children reach for the stars. This will be the third year the students will be working with Children of Vietnam. The Key Club will assemble approximately 40 members and over the course of two hours pedal their hearts out on stationary spin bikes. They hope to raise $2,000.
For more information about the Reagan High School Key Club contact the Club’s advisor, Rebecca Martin @ remartin@wsfcs.k12.nc.us. To donate to the Key Club’s cycle-thon go to the website (cov-cycling-out-child-poverty-2019.causevox.com/rhskeyclub).
