Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip #14! February 11, 2023

 

On February 11, 2023 Bernie and Ross will be cool and cold once again at the Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip. This is our 14th year doing the Dip, and we can't wait!

The Icebreaker is a fun event, but one with a very serious purpose: to raise funds and awareness women and children escaping human trafficking. All proceeds go to providing safe HOUSING, PROGRAMS, AND LONG TERM CARE for women and their children escaping the sex trade.   All this is provided through our recipient charity, the SA Foundation (www.safoundation.com). 

Please, please help us make a difference! To make your donation, click this link, scroll to "Donation" and follow the instructions. THANK YOU!

https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E350021QE&id=50&cfifid=222

White Rock BC: October 2021

Saint John NB: August 2022

 

And we’re done! Since our last update, Bernie and I cycled from Ottawa to Montreal, across Quebec’s Eastern Townships into Maine…to Saint Andrews, New Brunswick and finally to a beach on the Bay of Fundy at historic Saint John. If we thought we left climbing behind in the Rockies and the massive rolling hills north of Lake Superior, we were sorely mistaken! The Appalachians of the Eastern Townships and Maine offered some major challenges…as did the short steep hills hugging the Atlantic Coast. 

Highlights of the Bamboo Bicycle Expedition?

After 12,000 km on the support vehicle and 5,500 km in the saddle from Pacific to Atlantic, there are many memorable moments, but these are some of the highlights:

Geography and the Biking

· Massive climbs! Hope to Princeton: 3172 meters; and “Anarchist Hill” out of Osoyoos, another day with almost 2000 meters vertical.
· Screaming descents: Rossland to Trail BC; and Bridesville to Rock Creek BC
· Picking apples from branches overhanging the highway in the Okanogan
· Cycling in the snow! Nancy Green and Kootenay Passes
· Alberta’s Icefields and Bow Valley Parkways
· Huge tailwinds (we only had one such day, but it was a good one!) propelling Ross 300 km in a day between Maple Creek and Moose Jaw SK
· The floods of Manitoba
· The Group of Seven-esque scenery of Northeast Ontario and the rugged, stunning shorelines of lakes Superior and Huron
· Canada’s historic and stately capital, Ottawa
· The fabulous bike paths of the Eastern Townships; traditional farmhouses of Quebec (and of course, the bagels)
· The Banff-like ambiance of beautiful St. Andrews; and the bold and old grit of Saint John
· The 10 to 20 lanes of highway/parking lot that is the corridor from Toronto to Chicago (experienced on our return car trip to Calgary)

People

· The many people who took us in and graciously hosted us along the way
· Steve from Calgary, 4-time Cross-Canada cyclist
· Chad, who is walking across Canada (Sea-to-Sea for PTSD)
· The charming owner of the Parbeg Café (SK) who treated me to a Bible study along with $1 Velveeta cheese sandwiches
· Doug of the Johnson Fruit Market at Richler MB. The most passionate seller of produce I’ve ever met (and the best fruit ever!)
· Dave and Logan, road workers and fellow campers at Montreal River (Lake Superior) who were so fresh, wholesome and engaging. They loved our story…Logan ran back to his cabin to get cash for a donation
· Mark who was two days from completing his circumnavigation of each of the Great Lakes (a venture he started in the 1970’s)
· The three Hungarian “Evas” (grandma, daughter and granddaughter), operators (appropriately) of Eva’s Café and campground in Round Lake (ON)
· Jaseem and the staff of the Carolyn Beach hotel in beautiful Thessalon (ON); including young Sally who graciously laughed at Bernie’s jokes
· Jack, Joe and Bella on Cecibe Lake (ON) who treated us to inspiring stories, a campfire and a bottle of bourbon!

Questions and Answers

As you know, we have been asking people three questions and getting some interesting answers:

1. What do you LOVE about Canada?

-The freedom! The geographic and cultural diversity across the regions. The wilderness! Water, water everywhere. Opportunities for me and my family. Free healthcare, People are so nice (“It’s all ‘please’ and ‘thankyou’ and ‘sorry’”). The four seasons. Political and economic stability. Quality of life.

2. What do you LOVE about where you live in Canada?

-Well, there were too many answers to cover them all here, but a common theme was: “It’s home”.

3. [Because we were raising funds for kids living with disabilities]: Do you know someone living with a disability and can you tell me their story and how they are coping?

-Everyone we met knew someone living with a disability. From nerve disease to trauma (motorcycle, car accidents, a hockey injury, workplace accident), to MS, to Alzheimer’s and more
-The vast majority of the “living with a disability” stories we heard had at least some very positive outcomes. A common denominator in all stories was that those living with the disability had positive support from friends, family and/or community.

The Why behind the Expedition

Bernie and Ross took on the Cross-Canada BBE because we came to know kids living with disabilities on our last trip to Uganda. We wanted to support the great work that Embrace International Foundation and their Ugandan partner, Kyaninga Child Development Centre are doing there by raising funds to buy local bamboo wheelchairs and walkers. Just like individuals living with disabilities in Canada, these Ugandan children with disabilities (CwDs) need support. Unlike Canadian CwDs, this support is most often, simply not available.

According to government statistics, there are 2.5 million CwDs in Uganda (13% of children under 18 years). Only 9% of CwDs in Uganda enroll in primary school compared to the national average of 92%. There are many reasons for this appalling reality, but one key reason is the lack of mobility devices.

Will you help?

Thank you so much for following our wonderful adventure. Thank you to those who have supported our efforts. For those who have not, we ask you to would partner with us in giving the gift of mobility to these wonderful children.

Giving Guidance

1 Bamboo Wheelchair = $ 150

10 Bamboo Wheelchairs = $ 1500

1 Bamboo Walker = $ 50

10 Bamboo Walkers = $ 500

 Your Support of Any Kind  =  Our Thanks + New Futures for Kids in Uganda

You can support our efforts through the BBE by donating at https://www.embracecanada.ca/donate. 
(Under "Fund?" select "Old Guys in Action Bamboo Bicycle Expedition".) Thanks!

For more pictures and commentary visit OldGuysInAction.com, Facebook and Instagram

The Old Guys in Action Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition is a fundraiser for Embrace International Foundation, a Canmore-based NGO that works with children living with disabilities in developing countries. 

Over Halfway There!

 

After 9 days and cycling over 1600 km, Bernie and Ross have crossed the enormous province of Ontario. The diversity and beauty of what we’ve seen is staggering. From the immensity of Lake Superior, the massive granite outcrops and seemingly infinite of forests of the north, the warmth and beauty of cottage country, the stateliness of Ottawa, the sprawling farms and quaint old towns of eastern Ontario, the historic architecture and Amish wagons…it has all been wonderful!

And we have met some really nice people along the way. If you have been following us on Facebook or Instagram you know that we have been asking people three questions: 1. What do you LOVE about Canada? 2. What do you LOVE about where you live? 3. Do you know anyone living with a disability and can you tell us about their story? Check our FB/IG for their answers.

People have also been asking us questions. The main one being, “Why are you doing this”? The answer makes for a long story. Will you bear with us and read it?

 
1. The Need. For any and all things we take on as Old Guys, we are convinced of the need. Be it support for street kids in Kenya or survivors of human trafficking, or the reality of high rates of maternal mortality in Sierra Leone. The Bamboo Bicycle Expedition is no different. We are raising money for mobility devices for kids in Uganda because we know that among all the disadvantaged people on our planet, children living with disabilities in developing countries, are possibly THE most disadvantaged.

 
2. The Ability to Make a Difference. We can’t solve the world’s problems, but we know our modest efforts (and your support) make a huge different in the lives of real people, some of whom we have met and love.

  
3. The People Doing the Work. Another key motivator is the desire to support good people doing good work. People like Bev and Paul Carrick of Embrace and like Steve Williams, Embrace’s partner in Uganda.

As a young man, Steve was travelling in Uganda and was inspired to purchase land surrounding the beautiful Kyaninga crater lake…and build a safari lodge overlooking the beautiful lake and the Rwenzori mountains to the west (the famed “mountains of the moon”). There’s a picture of the young Steve with the sketch of the lodge and guest cabins below…holding a manual on how to build a log cabin. Steve made the vision a reality, one made of massive eucalyptus logs and vast quantities of sweat equity. Today the Kyaninga Lodge is a premiere destination for Ugandans and people from all over the world.

Steve married a lovely Ugandan woman, Asha and had a child together. The first-born son, Sydney, was born with cerebral palsy. In the process of providing every opportunity for Sydney, Steve recognized that there was a very high occurrence of cerebral palsy and other disabilities in the area. So…Steve started the Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC) and has (along with dedicated staff) made a huge impact on many thousands of kids living with disabilities. To reduce reliance on foreign donations, Steve started a social enterprise, the Kyaninga Dairy, which produces some of the finest goat cheese in Africa. With his own money, severely stretched by the impact of COVID on the tourism sector in Uganda, Steve has also spent years perfecting the production of wheelchairs made with local bamboo and labor.

 

That's the long answer: the short answer to the questions, “why are we doing the Bamboo Bicycle Expeditions?” is: There is a real an under-funded need; we can make a difference; we want to support Bev and Paul, and Steve in their important work. Will you help?

Giving Guidance

1 Bamboo Wheelchair = $ 150

10 Bamboo Wheelchairs = $ 1500

1 Bamboo Walker = $ 50

10 Bamboo Walkers = $ 500

Your Support of Any Kind = Our Thanks + New Futures for Kids in Uganda

You can support our efforts through the BBE by donating at https://www.embracecanada.ca/donate.

(Under "Fund?" select "Old Guys in Action Bamboo Bicycle Expedition".) Thanks!

Follow us at OldGuysInAction.com, Facebook and Instagram

The Old Guys in Action Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition is a fundraiser for Embrace International Foundation, a Canmore-based NGO that works with children living with disabilities in developing countries.

Embracing Ability

 

The third and final stage of the Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition (BBE) is underway! Bernie and Ross drove from to Thunder Bay, Ontario where Ross finished Phase 2 of the expedition back in May. From here we will ride across Ontario, Quebec, Maine and finally dip our tires in the Atlantic at Saint John, New Brunswick.   Our starting point was the Terry Fox memorial just outside of Thunder Bay. Terry lost his right leg to cancer as a young man. Unwilling to be defined by this lost and his ongoing battle with cancer, Terry inspired generations of Canadians, when at the age of 22, he set out to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research. In his “Marathon of Hope” Terry ran 26 miles per day from the Atlantic coast, reaching mile 3339 near the current memorial, where he was forced to stop. Terry passed shortly afterwards, on June 28, 1981. While his dream of completing the cross-Canada run was not fully realized, his heroic effort has raised tens of millions of dollars for cancer research.

It occurs to us that this amazing athlete set himself apart by focusing not on his disability, but on his ability...his ability to run immense distances, using a prosthetic leg...to achieve what had never been done before. We were recently sent a short video of a young man, a former dancer in Uganda, who, five years ago lost the use of his legs to disease. Like Terry, this young man now focuses on what he can do, performing beautiful dance routines, using a wheelchair made of bamboo. As you know, our Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition is a fundraiser with proceeds going to purchase wheelchairs and walkers for kids living with disabilities in Uganda. Our hope is that the recipients of these mobility devices will pursue their dreams and abilities to reach their full potential. Please support our efforts by making a donation through Embrace International and by following us on Facebook and Instagram. See details below, along with our targeted itinerary over the coming weeks. By the way, we are meeting lots of interesting people along the way…and asking three questions: What do you love about Canada? What do you love about where you live in Canada? Can you tell us a story about someone you know personally who is living with a disability? The answers have been pretty interesting! More to follow later and on Instagram and Facebook.

The Old Guys in Action Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition (BBE) is a fundraiser for Embrace International Foundation, a Canmore-based NGO that works with children living with disabilities in developing countries.  You can support our efforts through the BBE by donating at https://www.embracecanada.ca/donate. (Under "Fund?" select "Old Guys in Action Bamboo Bicycle Expedition".) Thanks! Follow us at OldGuysInAction.com, Facebook and Instagram

And they're off!

The third and final stage of the Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition (BBE) is underway! Bernie and Ross drove from to Thunder Bay, Ontario where Ross finished Phase 2 of the expedition back in May. From here we will ride across Ontario, Quebec and finally dip our tires in the Atlantic at Saint John, New Brunswick.

Below is the tentative schedule, which will undoubtedly move around given weather, road conditions and saddle sores. Being constrained by time, this phase will be completed in "leap frog" formatting, allowing Bernie and Ross to ride some of the distance cycling concurrently.

The BBE is a fundraiser with proceeds going to purchase wheelchairs and walkers for kids living with disabilities in Uganda. Please support our efforts by making a donation through Embrace International and by following us on Facebook and Instagram. See details below.

The Old Guys in Action Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition (BBE) is a fundraiser for Embrace International Foundation, a Canmore-based NGO that works with children living with disabilities in developing countries. 

You can support our efforts through the BBE by donating at https://www.embracecanada.ca/donate. (Under "Fund?" select "Old Guys in Action Bamboo Bicycle Expedition".) Thanks!

Follow us at OldGuysInAction.com, Facebook and Instagram

Bamboo Bicycle Expedition: Phase 2- Calgary to Thunder Bay Complete!

The Old Guys in Action Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition (BBE) is a fundraiser for Embrace International Foundation, a Canmore-based NGO that works with children living with disabilities in developing countries. Proceeds from the event will help to purchase bamboo wheelchairs and mobility devices for kids in rural Uganda.

You can support our efforts through the BBE by donating at https://www.embracecanada.ca/donate. (Under "Fund?" select "Old Guys in Action Bamboo Bicycle Expedition".) Thanks!

From the rolling prairies to the rugged Canadian shield...this is a BIG country. Phase 2 of the BBE (2000 KM from Calgary to Thunder Bay) is now complete. Phase 3 (2500 KM from Thunder Bay to Halifax) will start mid-June.

It got discouraging at times. Heading uphill into a strong headwinds, being buffeted by massive tandem tractor-trailer trucks...barely moving with a hundred kilometers left before the next 2-star motel.

But my struggles were small and brief compared to what kids living with disabilities in Uganda face every day. Often their disabilities confine them to their small wooden homes; and prevent them from playing, even going to school. Through the great work of Embrace Canada and the Kyaninga Child Development Centre, many of these kids will be given wheelchairs and prepared to enter school. Their schools and teachers will be readied to accept them. Lives will be transformed and new futures made possible with the help of your generous support. Thank you!

Bamboo Bicycle Expedition: Backgrounder

The Old Guys in Action Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition (BBE) is a fundraiser for Embrace International Foundation, a Canmore-based NGO that works with children living with disabilities in developing countries. You can support our efforts through the BBE by donating at https://www.embracecanada.ca/donate. Under "Fund?" select "Old Guys in Action Bamboo Bicycle Expedition". Thanks!

Through the BBE the Old Guys are looking to raise awareness and funding for children living with disabilities in Uganda, East Africa. Most of the children who will benefit from this extreme undertaking live in extreme poverty. These children are also challenged with a life-altering disability and many require the daily use of wheelchairs over rugged terrain. 

According to Ross, “We fell in love with Uganda and got to know some of these wonderful children during our 2018 Uganda HIGH-low Expedition fundraiser. Terrain-appropriate, locally produced bamboo wheelchairs and other mobility devices have the power to transform the lives of these kids. To help make the connection, much of the BBE will use bamboo bikes produced in Uganda (the sticks upper right below are our bikes when they were babies. Cute, eh?).”

Ross and Bernie began their epic expedition in White Rock, BC in October of last year (Phase 1). They braved snow, ice and cold temperatures before being forced to stop the ride in Calgary. Now that spring has arrived in most of Canada, the ride continues with Ross attempting to complete Phase 2 (Calgary to Thunder Bay) by early May. Phase 3 will see Bernie and Ross take on the final Thunder Bay to Halifax segment starting mid-June.

POLAR DIP #13 DONE!

Yes, it's been a while since we posted...but the Old Guys are still in Action. And so are the many wonderful people behind the Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip. The 2022 Dip had us back in a real lake (Lake Mahogany in Calgary) after last year's Bathtub (COVID) version.

Generous people donated over $113,000 to the 2022 Dip. This brings the total raised by Dipsters over the past 14 years to just $896,211.08 (approximately). The Icebreaker exists to support the great work of the SA Foundation with survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in 8 countries around the world (including Canada). Thank you so much for your support!

This year Old Guys (Bernie and Ross) showed up with the bamboo bicycles we are using in our Cross-Canada Bamboo Bicycle Expedition (more on this in posts to come). As you can see, the bamboo is really growing on us!

Thanks again everyone!

Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip: Bathtub Edition!

Bernie and Ross, and scores of other daring Dipsters have now completed the 11 Second Ice Dip. This is the pandemic-appropriate bathtub version of the traditional annual Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip. In our case (because we wanted to do this together) our “bathtub” was the same frozen pond in Discovery Ridge, Calgary where the Icebreaker started back in 2010.

Here is a video of our Dip that also has scenes of many others doing the 11 Second Ice Dip in a variety of very cool (cold) settings.

As you know, the Icebreaker is a fun event that targets the terrible reality of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. It supports the great work of the SA Foundation in eight countries around the world. The UN estimates that 3.8 million adults and 1 million children are victims of forced sexual exploitation around the world. And it is happening right here. Last month two people were charged with trafficking a 15 year old girl in a hotel…literally in the same block as Ross's office in downtown Calgary.

We are hugely excited that this year’s event has already raised over $90,000 of our $100,000 goal! Thank you so much to those who have already donated. And thanks to Jill and Mel and dozens of others have taken on the role of coordinating this event and done such a great job in very challenging times.

IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO ALREADY, PLEASE SPONSOR OUR DIP; AND/OR REGISTER TO DO YOUR OWN 11 SECOND ICE DIP!  Click this link for more information on the DIP and how to give!

The 2020 Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip made a BIG, BIG SPLASH!!!

With 119 Dipsters and Distance Dipsters; and donations from over 900 generous donors, $118,000 was raised to support the great work of the SA Foundation with women (and their children) who are survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Canada and 7 other countries around the world.

Donors, Sponsors, Volunteers, Dipsters and Distance Dipsters...

Thank you so, so much for your support!!!

It's Cool to be Cold!

PS. There are lots more great pictures on our Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip Facebook page.

The Birthday Party!

I’ve had a few weeks now to think about my time in Kathmandu in November with the women and children participating in the SA Foundation’s program for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

 

I visited the slums where these girls were forced to work in dingy brothels, beaten and abused day-after-day. I heard their stories of disease, fear and trauma. I met children as young as eleven carrying their own babies; and teens fighting the ravages of AIDS.

But the unexpected feeling I took away from my time in Nepal was one of hope. The SA home was well-run, clean, and bright; filled with women and kids who were loving and loved; who knew they were on a path to a new and hope-filled future.

While I was there a girl of 14, who had just recently joined the program, had a birthday. The staff served a cake with candles and the other girls gave her small presents. She was very emotional and gave a long, teary speech in Nepalese. She was overwhelmed by the celebration. Later I was told that she had never had a birthday party, and had never, ever, been given a gift…by anyone.

I showed the girls movies of Icebreaker Polar Dips and Distance Dips. They were shocked, amazed and truly appreciative that people half way around the world would care enough for them to jump into freezing water in the middle of winter; and generously donate money so they could have a brighter future.

I share their gratitude. Thank you to all who have donated and to those who are working so hard to organize, fundraise and prepare for another frigid flop into freezing fathoms of Mahogany Lake.  

All funds raised at the Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip go to the SA Foundation…and this year a significant portion is designated to the Nepal project. Once again Bernie and I will be old and cold. Please donate generously in support of our Dip and the great work of SAF and these wonderful young women (and their kids). You can make a donation here or by visiting our page at calgaryicebreaker.com (search for Ross, Bernie or Old Guys in Action).

Thanks,

Ross (for Bernie and Ross, “the Old Guys”).

Dip, Distance Dip, Donate or just come and watch. Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip: Mahogany Beach Club, Saturday January 11 (eleven) at 1PM…where “It’s Cool to be Cold”!

My Name is Hope!

It’s our 11^th time doing the Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip (12^th for each of us if you count the time Bernie accidentally fell through the ice and the time I did a pre-Dip with a TV reporter). And this is going to be a very special Dip for me…

In November I (Ross) had the great privilege of traveling to Kathmandu, Nepal to see the work of the SA Foundation with women (and their children) who are survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking in that country. The experience made a profound impression on me.

The facilities and programs are truly impressive and the leaders (Arjun and Rebecca) are some of the most inspirational (and effective) people I have ever met.

 

But it was the women (and their kids), the beneficiaries, that had the biggest impact. All had horrific stories of consistent, ongoing sexual abuse from as young an age as 11. Few had ever experienced protection, care and love before being rescued and referred to SAF. Yet in this special, supportive, loving environment; and despite the need for ongoing professional nurturing…they were all just teens and young women who now dared to dream and hope for a positive future, just like young people in my own neighbourhood.

As a fun exercise and to underline that they are important, unique and valued individuals, I asked them to pretend I was a famous Bollywood director. In the most dramatic and expressive way they could conjure up, they were, one at a time, to yell out their names for the camera. Dramatic (and giggly), one-by-one they proudly called out their names. To me it sounded like, “My name is Hope!”

The SAF Nepal project is one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip. Once again Bernie and I will be old and cold. Please donate generously in support of our Dip and the great work of SAF. You can make a donation here or by visiting our page at calgaryicebreaker.com (search for Ross, Bernie or Old Guys in Action).

10 Dips Done! Thank you!!!

The 10^th Anniversary Old Guy in Action Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip was amazing…and quite a change from Dip #1 back in 2010:

• Over 150 registered Dipsters (Year 1:  7)
• Over 40 volunteers (Year 1: 0)
• Over 700 individual donations! (Year 1: 20)
• Over 20 corporate sponsors (Year 1: 0)
• Over $95,000.00 donated by generous people like you (Year 1: $1,600)
• Over 300 spectators (Year 1: 20 friends & family)

The costumes and pageantry this year were amazing; ranging from walking dart boards, full-on gymnastic demonstrations, a dance clinic (from the “Very Old Guys in Action”), fairies, elves, animals and patriotism demonstrated by a maple leaf carved out of manly chest hair. 

We had a guest appearance from Lowell and Julie Taylor, contestants from season 4 of the Amazing Race Canada. Lowell, legally blind, is a world-class para-athlete (track cycling). As a couple they were “the Blind Dipster and the Blond Dipster”. Thanks Lowell and Julie...you were great!

Other firsts:

·         Our first time at the Mahogany Beach Club in southeast Calgary. The Beach Club is an awesome facility. Mahogany is warm and welcoming place. The Club, the community and local businesses really stepped up in providing support and volunteers.

·         Our first official employee! Naomi Holland, who has been the energy behind the dip for many years, came on as OGIA staff this year and, as always, did an outstanding, stellar job.

·         Our first Distance dips in Uganda and the USA.

Thanks everyone! Lots more great pictures at calgaryicebreaker.com and on our Facebook page.

Uganda Distance Dip organized by the amazing Steve Williams,  founder of the Kyaninga Child Development Centre. Thanks Steve, Carlos and all who Dipped in Fort Portal Uganda!

10th Anniversary Calgary Icebreaker Polar Dip!!!

January 1, 2019 will be our 10th anniversary Dip. Thank you to all who have dipped, distance dipped donated, volunteered, sponsored and spectated. Over the years generous people like you have donated almost $500,000 for great causes!

Check out our 10 year anniversary video, "A Decade of Dipping: It IS Cool to be Cold!" here.

And visit www.calgaryicebreaker.com for more information, to register and to donate.

Uganda HIGH-low Expedition: Thank YOU!

Thank you to all who followed Val Fortney (Calgary Herald), Steve Williams (Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC)) and Old Guys Bernie Potvin, Ross Weaver and Allison Vaandering (who is not old or a guy but is an official Old Guy) on our Uganda HIGH-low Expedition. (See Old Guys in Action's FB and IG pages for more info and amazing pictures).

Special thanks to those who supported our fundraising efforts on behalf of kids with disabilities in Uganda. The KCDC leadership and staff are truly inspirational human beings making a huge difference in the lives of over 1,000 special needs children. Your support of the UHLE (we are almost 80% of our target) will more than double that impact. You can still donate at www.embracecanada.ca.

The Uganda HIGH-low Expedition Starts in 1 Week!!!

Only one week to the start of the Old Guys in Action Uganda HIGH-low Expedition supporting children born with cerebral palsy and other disabilities in Uganda! May 6-21, 2018 we will…

Children born with disabilities into low income families in low income countries face some of the toughest challenges of any children, anywhere. Uganda has one of the highest rates of cerebral palsy in the world; and in most parts of the country, provides low to no services for kids with CP and other disabilities. KCDC provides specialized assessment, holistic treatment, education and support to children with disabilities. They have treated close to 1,000 kids. The proceeds of the Uganda HIGH-low Expedition (target $40,000) will enable a doubling of that impact.

If you’ve donated already, thank-you so much! If you haven’t had a chance, please donate at embracecanada.ca. The Old Guys pay 100% of their expenses, so all your donations go to help these kids through KCDC…and are 100% tax receiptable. UK donors can donate at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-williams68

Follow the Expedition on Instagram and Facebook !

 More Info on the Expedition FYI

·         Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley is the highest point of Uganda and is situated on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is part of the Rwenzori mountain range, known as the Mountains of the Moon. It’s cold up top and has had close to 2 meters of snow over the past month.

·         Lake Albert is one of the lowest points in the country and is at the headwaters of the White Nile which along with the Blue Nile (originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia) meet at Khartoum to form the Nile River that runs through Sudan and Egypt.

·         Kyaninga Lake is a crater lake. The Kyaninga Triathlon is an annual fundraiser of the Kyaninga Child Development Centre.

·         KCDC was founded by a British national (Steve Williams) and his Ugandan wife Asha. The couples’ son Sydney was born with cerebral palsy. When looking for help for Sydney they realized that there were very few resources or specialists available in the area for children with special needs. In fact, the entire annual government special needs budget for the region is under $4000. Steve and Asha are proprietors of the Kyaninga Lodge and use the lodge’s facilities for a number of annual fundraisers for KCDC.

·         Kenya? While Steve Williams and Ross Weaver are climbing Mt. Margherita, Bernie Potvin and Valerie Fortney from the Calgary Herald will be visiting Mully Children’s Family in Kenya. Old Guys in Action has engaged Val to write a book on some of the inspirational people OGIA have supported over the last 10 years, including Charles Mulli and Bev and Paul Carrick. Val and Bernie will meet Ross in Uganda for the “cycle low” and “tri hard” part of the Expedition.

·         Motorcycles? Embrace International Foundation, founded by Bev and Paul Carrick (who founded and ran CAUSE Canada for the past 30+ years) supports organizations that work with kids with disabilities in different countries in Africa and Central America. Embrace supports KCDC with motorcycles! Paul takes adventurous riders through Uganda on bikes they purchase for the tour. The riders then donate the motorbikes to KCDC workers so they can access remote parts of Uganda. Paul will be in Uganda for the “cycle low” and “tri hard” parts of the Expedition.

·         Val Fortney? After Kenya Val will meet up with the rest of the Expedition team in Uganda to interview Paul Carrick and Steve and Asha Williams.

…but will award winning journalist and author Valerie Fortney (now officially an “Old Guy”) do the triathlon??? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to find out.