Good News Fridays: Refuge Ride, Biking Because, Sugar Dogs Ministries

By Nathan Young on August 24, 2013

This week, I am talking about three different projects from people you need to know! Two of these projects involve going cross-country. And the other project features raising money for diabetes. Let’s get started!

Refuge Ride

Dustin and Katie Kelm are riding unicycles across the United States to raise awareness and one million dollars to aid Syrian Refugees and Internally Displaced People. They are riding 36 inch “big wheel” unicycles coast to coast across America. They are riding unsupported, not relying on a support vehicle traveling with them throughout the tour. In this way they will identify with the many Syrian Refugees and Internally Displaced People who have fled their homes with only the clothes on their backs. Support raised will aid those affected by the crisis in Syria.

There are now over 1 million Syrian refugees, 76% of whom are women and children. There are even more Internally Displaced people in Syria. Operation Mobilization has teams in place to help Syrian people from all backgrounds including Muslims, Kurds and Christians. This week, the pair crossed the halfway point of their trip!

Learn more about the Refuge Ride, go to: http://unishow.org/#/refuge-ride. Follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/RefugeRide and on Twitter @RefugeRide.

Biking Because

Nick and Russell Nolan have set out on an 18-month-long transcontinental trip through the Adventure Cycling Association, and they are taking the opportunity to meet the people in the communities they pass through. The pair are wanting to discover people, communities, and different ways of living across America. They want to get involved, particularly with America’s Christian communities, and spark up engaging conversations about the teachings of Jesus Christ, and other topics of importance. They want to promote a simple, healthy and active lifestyle and connect with individual people, communities and nature. They want to discover and learn about non-profit organizations all across America. The guys are Biking Because that is what they love to do!

Learn more about Biking Because at: http://www.bikingbecause.com/. Follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Bikingbecause

Sugar Dogs Ministries

Annagrace Gardner, a student at Hokes Bluff Middle School, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in January 2012. Now, she has founded a nonprofit organization, Sugar Dogs Ministries, to help raise money to train diabetic alert dogs for children. These dogs are trained to detect high and low blood sugars. Annagrace will have the companion of a golden doodle later this year that will be trained to detect and alert her to a blood sugar drop. Annagrace started Sugar Dogs Ministries to make sure other children with diabetes can be paired with a diabetic service dog!

Read a story from the Gadsden Times at: http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20130818/NEWS/130819811?p=1&tc=pg

Learn more about Sugar Dogs Ministries at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugar-Dogs-Ministries/556866721038249