Cycling from Campbell River to Victoria is no easy feat, but for 25 local women, the struggle is what helps them feel connected to who theyB次元官网网址檙e riding for.
The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa (VG4A) are hosting their 12th annual Cycle Tour to raise funds for the Stephen Lewis FoundationB次元官网网址檚 Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, an effort to help grandmothers across Africa struggling to keep their families together amidst the HIV/AIDS epidemic that is still sweeping the continent.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really powerful story of collaboration, of older women doing what each other needs,B次元官网网址� said Laurie Wilson, media spokesperson for the Cycle Tour 2018. B次元官网网址淪ome grannies say that when they cycle, thatB次元官网网址檚 when they feel the solidarity. When itB次元官网网址檚 hard and hot and smoky and hills are long, thatB次元官网网址檚 when you feel the most connected.B次元官网网址�
Women across Canada have joined the Grandmothers for Grandmothers campaign, and since 2006 have raised over $25 million for the cause. The Victoria branch alone has raised over $1 million, and continues to try to spread the word, though itB次元官网网址檚 not easy.
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B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 an interesting kind of invisibility when youB次元官网网址檙e an older lady,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 get the same attention as a young woman, or even an older man.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 this kind of struggle that continues to push them along, fighting for the marginalized women in Africa who themselves continue to stand up against the stigmas of AIDS and limitations on womenB次元官网网址檚 rights.
B次元官网网址淭hey are inspiring by the effort that they put into whatever they do,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淭hey are our age and older, from their 50s to 80s, caring for large numbers of children with very few resourcesB次元官网网址� but, theyB次元官网网址檝e become very good at supporting each other, becoming experts about medicine, and hounding people to visit clinics.B次元官网网址�
In order to gain their own resilience, the Victoria grannies have been training steadily for a year, with weekly two-hour cycles from September to April, followed by a 25-week training program starting in mid April.
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B次元官网网址淓very Monday we gradually increase our distance and add a couple hills,B次元官网网址� Wilson said. B次元官网网址淛ust last week we did two back-to-back 90 km routes, so itB次元官网网址檚 a pretty fit groupB次元官网网址� some of the ladies who can ride fastest up the hill are in their 70s!B次元官网网址�
This year, riders from age 55 to 75 will participate in the three day, 275 km trek down the Island. For the last leg of the ride, the VG4A will by joined by Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, before finishing in Centennial Square at 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, September 9th. The celebration will end with music, food and refreshments.
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