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The Riders
Meet the riders who've signed on take the Lifestart Foundation Cycle Vietnam Challenge.
Gerry Roberts- Age: 56
- Occupation: I'm a computer systems designer at Reece
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I have always been conscious of a duty to help those in need. I guess it is a value ingrained in my childhood. I cannot think of anyone in greater need than an impoverished person in a third world country. Without assistance, he or she is doomed to a miserable, squalid, undignified existence from which there is no escape. Until now I have helped only by sponsoring children through World Vision and through irregular donations of money at various times. I want to help more, and in different ways.
This bike ride also gives me the opportunity to raise some money for a charity founded by a friend. Karen Leonard's single-minded enthusiasm for helping desperately poor people inspires me and increases my optimism about the future of humanity.
Finally, it gives me something to work towards in terms of physical strength and endurance. I exercise regularly, and my physical fitness is quite good, but I can now tailor my training to meet a tangible goal.
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Bernie Hevern- Age: 25
- Occupation: Student - studying Arts/Theology, work part time at a hotel as a receptionist.
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About a year or so ago I happen to read an article on Karen and the Lifestart Foundation in the Age, when I was at uni one day. I had thoughts of travelling over to Vietnam in the future and thought I might be able to tee up volunteering with the charity over there, so I cut out the page and filed it away with other travelling bits and pieces. Somewhere along the way I brought it out again and subscribed to Karen's blog. Ever since receiving it I have been so inspired by the work Lifestart is doing with people over in Vietnam. I loved the whole ethos behind the charity -helping the poor they worked with to be self-sufficient, breaking the cycle of poverty by getting families into businesses and children into education and just providing for basic and vital needs that they would otherwise not have met. The stories just moved me...seeing real progress and lives changing, to see it making a real difference, the work being so effective...I couldn't help but want to be caught up in what Lifestart was doing.
I've been involved in helping out with fundraising for Lifestart last year, and when I heard about the bikeride I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to be involved in a different way -still doing the fundraising and supporting the work that way, but also actually going over to Vietnam and seeing the country in a unique way and then spending a bit of time with Lifestart at the end! It's been great to have a goal to work towards fitness wise too. I haven't done regular exercise in years, and having the bikeride to train for is great motivation. I'm very much looking forward to it!
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Marelyn McDonald- Age: 61
- Occupation: Retiree.
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I first visited Vietnam in 2002 with my late husband who was working in Vung Tau at the time. During that first visit, we developed a friendship with a local boy who was disabled and upon returning home to Australia continued that friendship and tried to assist him and his family where possible.
In 2004, 12 months after losing my husband in a boating accident, I read an article in the local newspaper in relation to Lifestarts work in Vietnam. Having been to Vietnam and experienced the poverty and third world conditions first hand, I contacted Karen and attended the Christmas in July Ball which was the beginning of my association with the foundation.
My next trip to Vietnam was in 2006 and I have done three trips with Lifestart since this time. The highlights from my volunteer work have been meeting the boat family (that my own family sponsor) and helping to set up the Lifestart school (free to local Vietnamese children).
When I found out about the “Cycle Vietnam” trip Lifestart was planning, I originally considered going as part of the support crew – travelling on the back of a motorbike! But I have decided to give myself a real challenge and participate on a push bike – I have subsequently bought my first bicycle in nearly 50 years and I have started training in preparation for the trip. After gaining support to raise the necessary funds, and having commenced my physical training, I am well on my way to fulfilling this challenge. If a mother of four and grandmother of seven can do it – anyone can!
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Peta Ryan- Age: 34
- Occupation: Beauty Therapist
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I first became involved with Lifestart Foundation when one of my girlfriends asked me and 2 other friends if we would sponsor a family in Vietnam instead of giving each other birthday presents. I have to admit that when we get to a certain age we don't really need birthday presents do we??
So since that day I have also taken on sponsoring another family with my mother and sisters and visit them annually. I have done some volunteer work with Karen in Hoi An. I took “beauty” classes with some of the teenage girls when I was there. The looks on their faces and the fun we had smothering ourselves in all different creams and massaging each other was priceless. This may seem like a simple thing to do, but these girls have never had the luxury of performing such simple everyday tasks that we take for granted. I now know that Vietnam will always be a part of my life. I go back to Vietnam every year for my "reality check".
I have never done any fundraising before, but so far I have been selling Cadbury chocolates (of which I have been eating too many). I have raised approx. $800 selling chocolates. I am now in the process of organizing an Auction and Trivia night which I am holding in July. So fingers crossed that $5000 I need to raise will not be too far away!
Training…hmmm. I have just joined the local gym and am slowly starting to get to enjoy rpm classes. I will be working on my fitness over the colder months and once it gets within a few months of the Challenge I will spending a lot of time on the road. I love to exercise so this is giving me some incentive and fitness goals. The challenge I am setting myself is that I am going to ride every kilometer in Vietnam……sickness pending of course!!
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Simon Gray- Age: 32
- Occupation: Astronaut Cowboy (ie: Customer Service Manager)
- Likes: Long bike rides, Vietnam and Peta Ryan
- Dislikes: Anything that’s not a long bike ride, Vietnam or Peta Ryan
- Reason for doing the bike ride: I like Peta. Apparently 600km worth!?!?
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But in all seriousness, she threatened me with legal action if I did not participate.
When I met Peta it was very clear that Lifestart Foundation means a great deal to her and is a large part of who she is. That being said, it’s one of the reasons why I love her so much. She’s totally dedicated to this worthy cause and I couldn’t possibly dream of not sharing this amazing experience with her. I find out more about Lifestart and the amazing work they do every day and doing something so meaningful makes more sense as each moment passes. I look forward to this tremendous challenge and cannot wait to cross that finish line. Bring it on!
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Gemma Foster- Age: 20
- Occupation: Journalism Student. Works part time at JB Hi Fi and a fruit shop.
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During my first year after finishing high school, I spent 6 months volunteering in China. I taught English at a local high school and at a private education centre. The experiences I had will stay with me for a lifetime. The most enjoyable and rewarding part of my time away was knowing that my simple games and acitivities were making a difference.
The opportunity to help someone, whether it be an individual, family or community, whilst in another culture is extremely appealing and when I first read about the bike ride I knew it would be a phenomenal experience. The physical challenge coupled with the fundraising target have been a lot to take on, but I know the end result will be well worth the reward.
I first heard about Lifestart at Karen's music school, where I was a pupil. I was inspired by the Lifestart story and wanted to get involved - this has been the perfect opportunity, albeit a daunting one!
Libby Lyver- Age: 54
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I am a 54 year old Mum from Brisbane and met Karen in Melbourne some months ago and was very impressed with the work she is doing in Vietnam. It is amazing to see what one woman has achieved with such hard work and compassion.
As a keen cyclist, when I was introduced to this trip and saw that by biking, I could raise funds for such a worthwhile foundation, I jumped in with both feet! I help out with various charities and visit refugees at Villawood as and when I can and have always enjoyed being able to help those less fortunate, although I feel that I don’t do enough for other people. If every person could help just one other person in their life, then charities such as Lifestart would be able to provide more support for a greater number of people. I am so looking forward to be able to see firsthand, the work Karen and her foundation are doing.
To fundraise I have been selling Cadbury’s chocolates at work (I am lucky I work with such a large number of “chocoholics”) and have a donation 'elephant' at a Vietnamese café patronised by lots of cyclists. In addition, Karen's dear friends, Stuart and Anne-Maree Maunder volunteered their professional time for a large fund raiser in June which I had help organising with the wonderful assistance of my twin sister, Laura. It was a Gilbert & Sullivan musical evening held in Sydney. Anne-Maree and Stuart have a very professional two “man” show. I raised almost the entire amount required in the one evening, thanks to people's generosity and with the chocolate sales, will raise the rest.
If I raise more than the target, I will buy bicycles for some of the needy children Karen helps. My target is to raise enough to buy 10 bikes. If anyone would like to help in this cause, please feel free to contact me.
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