Salvation Army's Ride for Homeless launched in Brisbane
Salvation Army's Ride for Homeless launched in Brisbane
17 August 2018
The Ride for Homelessness team are ready to go and make a big difference for those doing it tough and facing life on the streets.
“Everyone needs a place to call home – that is what this ride is all about,” said Paul Maunder, Team Leader at Brisbane Streetlevel Mission at the launch of The Salvation Army’s Ride for Homelessness on 17 August.
The fundraising bicycle ride will cover more than 1060km, and many challenging hill climbs, as it makes its ways from Sydney Streetlevel Mission to Brisbane Streetlevel Missions
Riders leave Sydney on 8 September and arrive in Brisbane on 16 September. Along the way they will be sleeping in street swags in Salvation Army halls, and will be assisted by a small support crew.
The ride is a partnership between The Salvation Army Brisbane Streetlevel Mission and Nanna Fitty's Fruit Cake Cycling Club*. The club is made up predominantly of Salvationists, as well as people from a variety of backgrounds, faith journeys, or no expression of faith.
Matt Ivers, who rides with the club and is playing a key role in organising the event, said club members wanted to do a “big” ride together and combine it with something significant – to really make a difference.
“Having Paul in the group, it was felt that raising money for Streetlevel and their work with homelessness would be the focus,” he said.
Paul said the team is passionate about making a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
“People who don’t have a place to call home endure incredible pain and hardship,” he said. “That breaks my heart and we all wanted to do something about it.”
Ride launch
Bill Hunter, team leader at The Salvation Army’s God’s Sports Arena, was MC for the launch. Representatives from Salvation Army divisional headquarters, Bicycle Queensland, ride sponsors, and riders and their families attended the launch.
The Streetlevel Work for the Dole team catered for the event as a special project.
During the launch, Paul explained that the group had set a fundraising target of $100,000 and that they were well on their way to achieve this.
The team’s fundraising goals are:
- Buy street swags for those sleeping rough on the streets. All riders have bought a swag for the trip and will give these to Streetlevel to distribute.
- Run training courses on the journey to independent living and to support people on that journey and equip them with skills and resources.
- A more long-term goal and where the majority of funds will go, is faith-based housing – supporting people to move to their own rental accommodation, support them in that, and help underwrite their tenancies.
Throughout the ride, the cyclists will wear jerseys with the words “Everyone needs a place to call home” printed on the front.
The Bible verse from Matthew 10:31, “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”, is printed on the back.
“We want people to know that they are valuable, precious and priceless,” said Paul. “That’s what we’re about.”
For more information go to the Streetlevel website, youtube, and Facebook page.
To make a donation, click here.
*Nana Fitty's Fruit Cake Cycling Club (NFFCCC). The story originates with team captain, David Fitness, who has been riding for many years and is originally from New Zealand. David’s Nanna would regularly make fruit cake for David and his riding mates - the perfect antidote to cold winter rides in the New Zealand North Island.
When David moved to Brisbane and started the group, the name stuck, with a NFFCCC in both countries. Now, before every ride, the cyclists have fruit cake!
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