October,
2004
Dear
Friends,
The
guys in this picture
have been the best of friends since the 8th grade (1967 - Yow!) We
grew up together, attended junior high and high school together and even
wound up at Fairhaven College together in the 1970s. We've celebrated each other's
marriages,
enjoyed each other's children, and share many mutual friends who are part
of
our extended family. We've lived together, driven cross-country together,
played music together, and done lots of other things together (many of which
best remain unreported!).
Last
year we both turned 50. This
half-century mark has had an unexpected result - all of a sudden we're
riding
our bikes more, craving new adventures, and thinking about how to make a
difference in this world of ours. Recently we've found a remarkable way to bring
these
seemingly disparate interests together and we need your help.
In February we will
travel to Vietnam to take part in a 300 mile bicycle ride from Hanoi to Dong Ha
to raise money for Kids First, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving
living conditions for poor and disabled children in Vietnam. Kids First has built an elementary
school, has created a scholarship fund, and is currently building a
rehabilitation village in Dong Ha to provide treatment, education and career
training for children in the region.
Dong Ha is located in Quang Tri Province, the site of one of the most
intense battlefields in Vietnam, and the Province most affected today by the residue
of unexploded ordinance, landmines and dioxins from the use of Agent Orange.
In
Vietnam, $52 will provide education for a deserving child for a full year, $100
will feed a hungry child for six months at the Duc Son Orphanage, $500.00 will
equip a dormitory room for four students at the Kids First Rehabilitation and
Career Training Village, and $1,000 will buy a welding machine to be used to
teach a student the skills to provide support for his family.
Here
are a few facts about Vietnam that you may find interesting.
- Children under 18
years of age represent 41% of Viet Nam's total
population.*
- 33% are between
the ages of 5-15 years.*
- It is estimated
that there are some 350,000-800,000 tons of unexploded ordnance and an
additional 3.5 million landmines scattered across Viet Nam.*
- While there is no
reliable data on annual, nation-wide UXO/landmine incidents gathered to
date, the Vietnamese and American governments both estimate that
UXO/landmines cause some 2,000 casualties (mostly children) a year.*
- It is estimated
that children and youth comprise 1/3 of UXO/landmine deaths and almost
half of all UXO/landmine injuries.*
*source: UNICEF
Together,
our goal is to raise $10,000 for the school and rehabilitation village. We are
paying the costs of our trip, but need your help to raise money and awareness
for the children served by Kids First.
We are asking for your financial support in any amount, just fill out
the donation form and return it in the enclosed addressed stamped envelop. And remember, your donation is tax
deductible -- a receipt and acknowledgement of your contribution will be sent from
Kids First. Plus we promise to
send you lots of notes and photos from our trip!
No
matter how large or small, your tax-deductible contribution to support the
efforts of Kids First will make a difference in the life of a deserving child
in Vietnam. To learn more about
Kids First please visit their website at kidsfirstvietnam.org and be
sure to view the short video of the 2004 ride. Or, if you prefer, just give one of us a call.
Thanks
for your support and for helping to make a difference for kids in Vietnam!
Best
wishes,
Ed Lorah
(206) 523-7526
Rider #1305
Oren Sreebny
(206) 524-4487
Rider #1205