The Last Hill Before Home: Another Dream in the works...

Friday, June 26, 2009

Another Dream in the works...

On November 19th, 2007 I set off on a journey. The original plan was to visit a few different regions of the world in a 10 month stretch. I wanted to go to South East Asia, India, Northern Africa, spend a small amount of time in Eastern Europe then head to South America where I would finish off the trip with a hike up to Macchu Picchu in Peru before heading home. So, I got the around the world plane ticket, I sold the car, boxed up all my stuff and took off for a great adventure.

Well...things changed up a bit...

I saw the sights in South East Asia, I stretched out in an ashram in India, I lived in Barcelona, I climbed the pyramids in Egypt and I hiked all over South America. While I was in Buenos Aires it was time to make a decision. I had just arrived to Argentina and my trip was near the end. My plane ticket back to San Francisco was departing within a few days. So...I decided not to get on the plane.

I ended up staying in B's A's for a few weeks. I went to Santiago de Chile to live and study Spanish and I eventually made my way to Machu Pichu to see the amazing ruins. So again...I was left with a decision. My journey was over. Do I go home and get back to the grind at work? Or, do I put together one last adventure?

The Last Hill Before Home, a grassroots fundraising event aimed to raise funds and awareness for children living in poverty in Central America, became that "one last adventure". I decided to do an inspirational event that would bring attention to the plight and struggle that these children face everyday. I decided to ride a bike from Panama City, Panama back to San Francisco, CA. The entire trip would cross 8 countries, take a little over 3 months and span over 3,500 miles. I had never been on a rode bike before but I thought to myself...just do it! Luckily my great friend, Mike T, met me for the first 2 weeks but after that...I was alone!

I hooked up with a NGO non profit called Plan USA. At first Plan was a bit tentative to let me do this crazy event in the name of their organization. After speaking with some people at Plan and putting the Zukoski charm on I convinced them to let me have at it. After Plan saw that I was dedicated to their mission they became super supportive on many levels. Aside from sending out my blog and fundraising information to their entire support network, via the Plan USA newsletter, they also helped me understand more about their organization and what exactly they did. For example, they took me to different Plan sponsored communities in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. A truly life changing experience.

On April 25th, 2009 I rode my bike across the Golden gate bridge and finally made it back home to San Francisco after 17 months and 7 days, including the 3 month and 7 day bike trip. What a wild ride!

The Last Hill Before Home held two more parties for the children of Jalapa, Guatemala. We threw parties in Los Angeles and San Francisco to raise more awareness and funds for the children. So...to date...we have raised $11,000, not bad especially since I was trying to communicate with the Last Hill board via internet shops in Central America after riding the bike for 7 plus hours a day.

Along my travels I came up with an idea. One of my hobbies is photography. Before I left for my trip I took a digital SLR camera with 3 lenses. I wanted to make sure I got all the best travel photos to show to family and friends back home. Back in India when I came up with this idea, I wanted to create some type of photo exhibit once I got back to San Francisco. I wanted to show off the cool pictures and I was hoping to make this event into some type of fundraiser. Well...now that idea, that dream is becoming a reality.

On Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco we will be hosting a one day special photo show from noon to 6pm called "7 Travelers. 7 Views. Photos from Around the World." The idea is to bring 7 of my travel friends together to show off our photos from our trips. These 7 travelers I met while traveling through various parts of this amazing planet. With a bit of luck and a ton of organizing we will be able to show off our inspiring photos AND raise the remaining $4,000 needed to build this school in Guatemala.

On top of that the event is going to feature some great live music, poetry and other art work. 111 Minna is an amazing place to hold the event. I sent out the initial invitation and the facebook invite already has 700 people invited! Its going to be fun!

I must give some super props to all my friends for helping out. There's no way I can make this dream become a reality without them. Mike Ward, Erin Alonso, Steve Ly, Jay Baby, Blake Cohlan, Risa Kostis, Cindu Thomas-George, Alfredo Griffin aka DJ Orukasaki to name a few. Damn...I hope I didn't leave anyone out. There will be more thank you's to come!

I hope to see you guys at the event!

Peace, Power and Pedal

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

Friday, June 26, 2009

Another Dream in the works...

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