If you can't read this newsletter, go to http://www.reliefridersinternational.com/letter_July_07.htm
R E L I E F R I D E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L |
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Recent Press Join Alumni Rider, Pamela West on her exciting Adventure, as she reflects on the challenges, humor and unforeseen gifts of the Relief Ride in her article "Adventure with a Mission," published as the lead travel feature in The Sunday Washington Post
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July 2 , 2007 Dear Friends: As so many of you know, I began Relief Riders International in tribute to my father’s spirit – to carry on the care and love he bestowed on our immediate family, as well the people he came in contact with. It is time to reflect on three year’s of unimaginable experiences - some challenging but all filled with meaning, enthusiasm and magic – because Relief Riders International has time and again reminded me of the source of my inspiration for this work and the unexpected gifts that life has to offer all of us. So it is with a deep sense of gratitude that I wish to thank all of you for being a part of this. There is no substitute for the care and support that you have time and time again provided for the work that we are achieving. Thank you barely begins to express my gratitude. 3 Years Later 2006-2007 Season Review In February, our riders experienced a new level of adventure when Mother Nature honored us with our own demonstration of the emerging climate crisis – a hailstorm, a sandstorm and three days of tempestuous rain. So severe was this epic weather –later reported to have caused widespread damage in 23 Rajasthan districts –that we were forced to alter our itinerary. Look forward to rider Merilleon Wing’s personal account of this journey in our future newsletter. RRI in the Media Please click here for Marc Lecureuil’s slideshow, accompanied by the music of Krishna Das. We are grateful for the coverage RRI received in the international media this past year. The publicity has helped us attract new riders and gain additional support for our relief missions. |
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Most recently, in the March/April issue of Motto Magazine, writer Judy Martin features the Business model of Relief Riders International. We would also like to thank alumni Relief Rider Pamela West for writing an exciting and humoristic account of her Relief Ride “Adventure with a Mission” which was featured as the lead travel story in The Sunday Washington Post this past September. Thanks to Venkatesh Dhattareyan, Managing Director of The India Tourism Board, Relief Riders International was officially recognized and incorporated into the Incredible India campaign In December 2006, Relief Riders International was honored to be nominated as a “change agent” among several other companies by The Alliance for a New Humanity. The organization, which is presided over by Deepak Chopra, exists with the intention to “connect people, who, through personal and social transformation, are committed to creating a just, peaceful, and sustainable world.” I joined representatives from 38 countries in a meeting in Puerto Rico . The Alliance provides active support for working for change, and a forum in which we can all collectively share and learn from our experiences. 2007-2008 Season Plans During the 2006-2007 relief ride season we successfully raised enough money to provide life-changing eye surgery for 294 villagers. This year, with your support, we hope to successfully raise the $42,000 necessary to offer 600 villagers cataract eye surgery. With your help will be able to reach our goals. Please underwrite the costs of an eye surgery for a villager in India . Please click here for more details on our Give The Gift of Sight program. For 2007-2008 we’re limiting the number of riders per Relief Ride to 12. There are still some spaces available on all of our rides. We are encouraging riders to reserve their spaces soon since the rides fill up quickly. Please find the dates for our 2007/2008 Ride season below: 2007/2008 Relief Ride Season RAJASTHAN RELIEF RIDE 2007 Pushkar Relief Ride 7th through the 22nd of October, 2007 RAJASTHAN RELIEF RIDE 2008 Nagaur Relief Ride January 21st through February 5th, 2008 RAJASTHAN RELIEF RIDE 2008 Roopangarh Relief Ride February 23rd through March 9th, 2008 Please click here to view detailed versions of our itineraries. We’re excited to have you join us in this effort and honored that our alumni riders and network of friends continue support us in ways that allow our mission work to continue and flourish. We hope that we will be able to ride with you in India this winter!
Sincerely, Alexander Souri “Consider yourself miraculous”--Anonymous Relief Riders International info@reliefridersinternational.com
to read the previous newsletter, go to http://www.reliefridersinternational.com/letter_Aug_06.htm |