Their journey across the nation was in its ninth day when a band of cyclists stopped at the Snowflake-Taylor Fire & Medical Department, Station April 2 to enjoy dinner and a good night’s rest.
This is the 11th year of Ride for World Health, a non-profit organization founded in 2006 by medical students at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
“We don’t just eat, sleep and bike!” according to the students’ brochure. “The ride is our platform to deliver lectures intended to educate local populations about health topics relevant to them.”
They have raised almost $1 million since they began 11 years ago, said Kyle Jamison, CEO of Ride for World Health, and more than 250 riders have ridden approximately 750,000 miles.
They focus their efforts on three goals, education, advocacy and fundraising.
This year money is being raised for AZ Esperanca, a non-profit based in Phoenix. “Esperanca focuses on improving health and providing hope for families in the poorest communities of the world through sustainable disease prevention, education and treatment. Esperanca envisions a world where communities across the globe have the tools, training and support to achieve optimal health through access to clean water, safe housing, nutritious food and disease prevention and treatment,” according to the group’s website.
Funds will go to the OSU-Grief Neonatal Survival Program, which will help ensure safe housing, healthcare and education for mothers-to-be.
Jamison explained that this project in Peru gives high risk women who live in the rural Andes, who would have a two-day walk to a hospital, a place to stay in a safe house so they have clear and quick access to a hospital when their baby is born.
The protocol in the first few minutes of life when a baby isn’t breathing will cut the risk of losing the child, explained Jamison, noting that the protocol is especially important with a premature baby, and teaches nurses and clinical officers how to help babies breathe at the beginning of their lives.
The cyclists began their ride in San Diego, Calif., and will ride 3,300 miles to Bethany Beach, Del., in 58 days. There were 16 riders in Taylor. Most are senior medical students from Ohio State University; one is Jamison’s father-in-law, a physician. Jamison said that there will be others who will ride along the way. “This is an elective class,” said Jamison.
You can share their experiences on Facebook at Ride for World Health.
If you would like more information on Ride for World Health or would like to donate, go online to R4WH.org.
These fourth-year medical students from Ohio State University College of Medicine are on the Ride for World Health, raising money to help ensure safe housing, healthcare and education for mothers-to-be in rural Peru.
