Thirty cyclists with an average age of 65, numerous hip and knee replacements and life-threatening illness between them, a journey of 275 kilometres and no complaints.

The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa Cycle Tour take their rubber to the road for their less-fortunate counterparts in Africa in September.

B次元官网网址�(A total of 40-60 per cent of orphaned grandchildren in Africa are raised by their grandparents,B次元官网网址� said race organizer Jocelyn Green.

B次元官网网址淚 have the benefit of living in this country with clear water, air and food. Grandmothers in Africa are caring for their grandchildren when their own children have died.B次元官网网址�

The 64-year-old Saanich resident who hadnB次元官网网址檛 biked a combined 20 kilometres in her life before, created the tour after seeing the success of the Canadian Cancer SocietyB次元官网网址檚 Tour de Rock and believes if seniors in Africa can raise their grandchildren under the weight of poverty, cycling 275 kilometres was a small price to pay.

B次元官网网址淚 have seen the different grandparents raising their grandchildren with so little,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎nyone who is a grandparent realizes how precious these children are and how much care they need.B次元官网网址�

Sixteen grandmothers banded together for the inaugural 2007 tour in the hopes of raising $100 each. To their surprise, they raised 10 times that, collecting $16,000 in nickels, dimes and small bills for the Stephen LewisB次元官网网址檚 Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign.

The local group has cumulatively raised more than $200,000 over the five tours and hopes the sixth annual trek takes them over the $250,000 mark.

B次元官网网址淭hat money will go such a long, long way in Africa,B次元官网网址� said rider Joanne Egan. B次元官网网址淭he poverty there is unbelievable. I have never witnessed anything like that.B次元官网网址�

Making their 100-kilometre training trek every Monday morning is a small price to pay for the 63-year-old grandmother on her second tour.

The program donates 100 per cent of proceeds to the cause taking nothing for administration. In fact, Egan pays $220 to be a part of the trip on top of her own fundraising for the trip that rolls out of Rotary Park in Campbell River on Sept. 7, culminating with their arrival at St. John the Divine church in Victoria on GrandparentB次元官网网址檚 Day, Sept. 9 at 3 p.m.

EganB次元官网网址檚 participation became more meaningful after seeing the poverty-stricken lifestyle first hand after she travelled to an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where her daughter adopted a 15-month-old child living in a small room packed with 10 other children.

B次元官网网址淭he trip changed my life. My need for things has diminished. We have so much and they have so little,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭he money will go such a long way in Africa. I have never witnessed anything like that beforeB次元官网网址� I saw first hand how far our dollars will go in Africa there and they need help.B次元官网网址�

EaganB次元官网网址檚 new grandson, where he came from, and the African grandmothers struggling to push their bodies long enough to raise their grandchildren, is top of mind for the Sidney resident who ignores the aches and pains of her body knowing she is one of the fortunate ones.

B次元官网网址淚t is such a struggle for them, every day. I saw people with severe disabilities sleeping in metal boxes not much bigger than coffins,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚 feel so fortunate, I have healthy grandchildren, and I am certainly happy I donB次元官网网址檛 have to bring them up.B次元官网网址�

For more information or to donate, please go online to bit.ly/VG4Acycle.