For the past five weeks, Claire Elgersma has been able get an up-close look at the beauty of the country.
As one of 127 people who is participating in the entire Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour, the Kentwood, Mich., woman is riding to raise money to fight poverty in North America and around the world.
“It’s kind of a crazy idea,” Elgersma said Sunday while updating her Web log in Fremont’s Memorial Park. “I did it in 2005 and saw what it did for the people involved. ... This time we’re experiencing the same thing.”
The 3,881-mile, nine-week tour is presented by the Christian Reformed Church, a congregation of about 275,000 people in 1,000 churches in the United States and Canada. In 2005, the Canadian branch of the church did a similar ride in honor of its 150th anniversary.
This year, the trip began in Seattle, Wash., and will finish in Jersey City, N.J., in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. So far, $1.9 million has been raised.
“Canadians and Americans are working together to make a difference,” Elgersma said. “It does make a difference. You do impact people’s lives. We are so richly blessed and we have a responsibility to share what we have.”
Funds generated through the tour will be used in business, community and leadership development projects through the Christian Reformed Church’s missions programs.
While there are 127 people who are making the entire trip, others are joining for two-week portions. On Saturday, there were 140 cyclists who rode into Fremont.
Those 140 set up camp in Memorial Park and then sought ways to cool off from some of the hottest temperatures they have seen on the trip. Some sought out cool drinks while others went into Sidner Ice Arena, where a few even played hockey.
“Some of the kids have a lot of energy,” said Elgersma, who has retired from running her own business in the past three years.
Sunday was a day to attend worship services. Some of the riders went to Lincoln, others to Omaha and still others to churches in Fremont. Then it was time to look for shade, fix flat tires, do some minor repair and wash the bikes.
Riders share an evening meal together each day and a mobile kitchen is located in one of the support vehicles that travels with the tour.
During the first five weeks, Elgersma and her fellow cyclists have seen mountains, rolling hills and a lot of sage brush.
“Winter Park (Colo.) was spectacular,” she said. “But I can’t say I’m crazy about all the sage brush.”
She’s looking forward to what’s in store in Iowa and Wisconsin and eventually dipping her tires in the Atlantic Ocean right across from the Statue of Liberty.
“We’ve done over 2,000 miles,” Elgersma said. “It’s an amazing feat to have pedaled all that distance. It’s fun, but it’s also serious. For a lot of the people we’re biking for, a bike is their livelihood.
“Every four seconds a child dies because of poverty,” she added. “That’s four pedal strokes.”
Elgersma and the other riders will continue to pedal for their cause. Today the trip heads to Sioux City, Iowa.
To follow along on the journey, visit www.seatosea.org.
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After talking with some of the cyclists why all these tents were set up in the park I contacted the Tribune Saturday night for someone to please do a story on this group. I left a message, and again I left a message for the Tribune on Sunday. This morning I went back to the park to watch some of them leave and, visit with the cyclists. I saw a reporter from the Tribune then. He said there would be a story in today' paper? Where was the information we would like to have had telling us ahead of time this group would be staying in Fremont? I guess someone in our town didn't feel this was something that concerned the citizens of Fremont? Poverty across the United States and the World. This was not affiliated with any of our churchs in Fremont so why should anyone care?
I was totally ashamed, disappointed and embarrassed that most Fremontors knew nothing what was going on. I talked with some people at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church this morning and they said after finding out what was going on, some of the cyclists stayed in the church. They too couldn't understand why this was not advertized. I contacted the Chamber for some answers and they directed me to Parks and Rec. The gentleman I spoke with there said this was set up in Jan or Feb by an internist and he was not there at the time.
Jan? or Feb? This is Aug!!! Was money received for this? Did they not know that maybe a few people might be a little interested in knowing more about this organization and what they stand for? I had left a message with the Chamber of Commerce and a call was returned to me. The explanation given to me was "No one had contacted them and this was not on the calendar."
Everyone knows how to pass the buck on to someone else. It is never there fault. Maybe the people that are responsible for this screw up should send a nice donation to SeatoSea.org and apologize for the way the City of Fremont welcomed them to our "Friendly Little Town"? I understand how heavy it is to pick up the phone to let someone else know a little information. But of course, that probably isn't there job.!!!!!