The Last Hill Before Home: It´s like riding with one leg

Monday, January 26, 2009

It´s like riding with one leg

Mike and I at Playa Las Lajas, Panama

Mike,

I don't even know where to start with this bro...

Thanks for making this trip man. You have no idea how much it meant to me. At first I was in such a state of shock because I couldn't believe that you actually made it to Panama. You have a ton of stuff going on back home and you made some serious sacrifices getting get down here. What you did for me, this fundraiser and for the kids that are benefiting from the funds that we've raised is huge.

I thought when you had to leave that it would be hard as hell to continue. I thought that it would be like riding with one leg. Instead it's been quite the opposite. My batteries are charged brother! I got a long journey ahead of me and the time we spent together was great.

A few things we learned while in Panama...

Panamanian women love jazz
Panamanian cigars are better when having a "big boy cut"
Never underestimate the Panamanian butty bump in the club
Arrozo, fijoles can pollo is the best meal ever! All day baby!
Coca Cola does keep you up at night
Naming bikes is a good thing especially when you got 5 kilometers left
Biker guuuu is amazing
We don't look good in biker shorts

But more importantly...

Take it one day at a time
Little chunks
Let the bike do the work
Have fun
Smile, even if you don't know why...there's usually a smile waiting for you on the other side
Grassroots fundraising events do work...and do make a difference
enthusiasm and optimism do bring you good things
positivity can conquer

I had a great moment today. There's a stretch of road about 15 kilometers before the Panamanian and Costa Rican border. It's about 7 kilometers long. I hit this stretch earlier today. It was a straight road, slightly down hill, the scenery was beautiful. Jungle and rolling green hills on both sides. I was on an amazing pace I felt like I was flying. The sun and wind were hitting my back. I felt one with the bike and the road. On top of that I wasn't worried about being alone. I wasn't worried about the massive amounts of kilometers and hills. I was in the moment man. It was perfect. I was thinking of friends and family back home. I was sending you thanks for a crazy journey in Panama. I would like to call these moments, of being in the now, with the bike, the road, the environment and feeling the love the T Factor. So...from here on out...if you here me say the T Factor its because of you brother. I got a long journey ahead and so do you in many ways. Lets hope that there full of the T!

Thanks Mike T Ward! I appreciate all the support....

Aaron

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Plan USA

¨Plan is a global partnership of caring people founded in 1937 to bring hope and help to the world’s poorest children.

Plan began as a child sponsorship organization. Today, we are one of the oldest and largest organizations of our kind—our grassroots, self-help programs assist more than 10 million children and their families in poor communities around the world.

We are proudly private, not for profit, and respectful of local religions and cultures—we have no agenda other than helping kids. Plan USA is one of more than 60 national organizations bearing the renowned Plan logo. ¨

Right about the time that I was identifying non profit organizations to work with I received an email from my cousin Joshua. Josh, a meteorologist for the United States Air Force who is living in Germany and currently stationed in Iraq, mentioned that he was now sponsoring a child through Plan USA. He said that it was a small step but a small step in the right direction. He also mentioned that Plan USA was backed by the Better Business Bureau, a point that we both respect. Through various research of my own I found that Plan USA is a prominent NGO and has a great marks from InterAction and the Charities Review Council. Most importantly I found that Plan USA´s mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvement in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨ linked exactly to my own mission for this fundraising event. Needless to say, it was a great fit.

The Inspiration

¨You must be the change you want to see in the world¨

- Mahatma Gandhi

I love to travel.

I have been lucky enough to throw on a backpack and visit 5 continents. I have been fortunate enough to see some amazing sights. It´s hard not to be inspired when your standing under the rotunda at the Taj Mahal or approaching the Pyramids of Egypt or wandering through the waterfalls at Iguazu in Argentina. These have all been inspiring times.

I also cherish the fact that I have met people from all over the world and been able to learn and share in the differences in cultures. You can learn so much when you share a spicy vietnamese sandwich with a local in Hoi An, when you take a stroll with a friend in a park in Santiago de Chile or gather with pilgrims over a pitcher of sangria at Santiago de Compostella in Spain. I´ve learned a lot and I´m incredibly grateful for all the opportunities.

With all the ups there´s also the downs. Theres another side you see when travelling. This side isn´t shared as much and it can also be quite difficult to talk about. Many countries, especially in the developing worlds, face many problems. HIV/AIDS, pollution, over population, lack of clean drinking water, dangerous living conditions and of course people living under $1 a day are just a few of the issues to mention.

I have wandered through the ghetto´s of Bangkok, I played stick games with the kids in the slums of Mumbai and seen the horrible living conditions of the street beggars in La Paz. While these encounters were only brief they still had a profound affect on me. Somehow, I draw inspiration from these encounters and connections. In so many situations these people who seemed to have nothing, were still smiling, still playing and still trying with all their means to get by. If only I had that much courage!

It was culture shock and it hurt.

I feel that now is the time to give back.

I encourage you to leave comments on this blog. Every word of positivity will help me along my journey. I encourage you to pass the message forward. Together we can help make a change for the kids that need it most. Finally, I encourage you to donate. There´s an icon on the top right hand corner of this blog that will direct you to a third party site that facilitates the donations. Its totally secure and safe. I appreciate all the love and positivity that I´m already recieving, of course this is not possible without people who want to help make a difference.

I don´t think that I´ll necessarily change the world, after all I´m just a 28 year old guy from San Francisco. But, I do want to give back. I do want to help. I have the opportunity so why not use it to help the children in the world who don´t have the same chances.

Now is the time to ¨be the change¨.

The Goal

In riding my bike from Panama City to San Francisco, I am initiating a grassroots fundraising effort to help raise money to feed starving children in Central and South America. All proceeds will go to PLAN USA. My goal is to raise a minimum of 15,000 dollars. In doing so I also hope to bring the plight and struggle of these children into the concious of the public, as well as their profound sense of life, courage, hope and faith. Their undeniable love for life, and ability to continue to dream.

Donate today http://www.firstgiving.com/lasthillbeforehome

I Believe

When taking on a mission like this it´s important to create a set of ideals, principles or beliefs. The task at hand is by no means going to be easy. These 7 beliefs are truly the fundamentals that will help me along my journey.

I Believe...

- In Plan USA. Plan´s clearly defined mission of ¨striving to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries¨, is possible with the support from us if we are willing to make a difference today.

- In grassroots charitable efforts. Dedicated individual leaders and community outreach groups are fighting the growing problems of poverty.

- In the power of communication and information. Plan´s key programs of ¨growing up healthy, learning, habitat, livelihood and building relationships¨, are possible by making a donation and passing the message forward.

- Riding a bike from Panama City to San Francisco will raise awareness to the fight against poverty.

- In outdoor adventure travel. Riding is one of the positive and healthy activities that plants confidence into any individual.

- In the power of synergy. A group with a common mission driven by creativity and passion can accomplish any set of goals.

- A dream, a bike and a regular guy from San Francisco can help make a change in the lives of children whom need it most.

The Last Hill Before Home

Monday, January 26, 2009

It´s like riding with one leg

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