Cyclist rides to rescue Cambodian orphans
ABBOTSFORD, BC—Aaron Siemens has never given to charity. But that's about to change.
On July 17, Siemens will set off on a cross-Canada cycling trip to raise money for a charity that supports HIV/AIDS affected women and children in Cambodia.
Siemens, 25, has always wanted to cycle across Canada. But his mind was made up in January of this year when Marie Ens from Place of Rescue spoke at his church, Heritage Alliance in Abbotsford.
"I had already been praying about it for a while," Siemens says of the trip. "Doing the ride for Place of Rescue is something I knew God wanted me to do."
During her presentation, Ens spoke about dictator Pol Pot and the agrarian socialism that ravaged Cambodia. Almost 2.5 million people were killed as a result of his leadership and countless others lost family and plunged into poverty.
Place of Rescue supports elderly women who require care but have lost their family. They also provide care for people suffering from HIV/AIDS, expectant mothers, orphaned children, and handicapped babies.
"The money and awareness that Aaron will raise during his ride across Canada will help us meet the needs of hundreds of Cambodian children, most of whom have lost their parents to the AIDS virus," says Blaine Sylvester, who works at the Canadian headquarters of Place of Rescue in Calgary.
One of the main reasons Siemens decided to support Place of Rescue is the large percentage of funds set aside for the projects in Cambodia. Another reason is their support of people from infancy to old age, even helping some go to college.
Siemens' ride spans two months. He will embark alone on his trip, with no support team aiding his ride. He will fly to St. John's, Newfoundland and will ride back to B.C., mostly travelling the Trans-Canada Highway. He plans to tent overnight and stay with family along the way.
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