Wheels4Water Rides Again

Cycling teams ride all over the world for safe water in Kaliro, Uganda.

Wheels4Water is back at work in 2016 to raise awareness and funds to combat the world’s water and sanitation crisis. This year, several teams will ride to help vulnerable children and families in Kaliro, Uganda get access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene – access that will save lives and strengthen communities.

Justin Ahrens of Rule29 and Brian MacDonald of Wonderkind Studios, both avid cyclists and creative professionals, founded Wheels 4 Water in 2014. The effort over the past two years has brought together riders and those in the creative community to raise over $160,000 for children in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), helping thousands of families. Last year, Ahrens and MacDonald traveled with Lifewater to these communities to see the work.

“It was unbelievable to be in those communities and see just what we can do together as a community to make a huge difference,” said Ahrens. “Lifewater can help a person get clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for life for $40.” “In these communities, the change was unbelievable for people to have access to clean water and sanitation,” reported MacDonald.

This year the funds raised will help children and families in the remote Kaliro district of eastern Uganda, where women wait hours in line for water and children often collect contaminated water from ponds shared with animals. Very few homes and schools have dignified latrines and handwashing stations, which help stop the spread of deadly water-borne diseases.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for others to join us on rides and in this cause,” says Ahrens. Three teams will ride all over the world to help Wheels4Water reach its goal of helping 1000 people, or $40,000. Team Illinois will be riding 50 and 100 miles on July 9 from Geneva, IL. Team Arizona, led by Tony Narducci, CEO of O’Neil Printing, will ride 40 or 80 miles on October 8 from Chandler, AZ. Riders are asked to raise $480, the equivalent of providing water and sanitation to 12 people. Team Anywhere, led by Ryan Connary, invites others to create their own individual or community ride, and riders are signing up around the world.

Sign up to ride, watch the video, find our more about Kaliro, or buy W4W cycling gear and posters at wheels4water.org. Volunteers for the Illinois and Arizona rides are also welcome.

Lifewater International is a non-profit Christian water development organization dedicated to effectively serving vulnerable children and families by partnering with underserved communities to overcome water poverty. With experience in more than 40 countries since 1977, Lifewater serves people of all faiths, focusing on contextually appropriate water sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) development. For more information, contact Christine Zurbach (czurbach@lifewater.org) or visit www.lifewater.org. Lifewater International is based in San Luis Obispo, CA

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