By Meghann Gunderman, TFFT’s Founder and Executive Director
Imagine four months of training on a road bike doing six-mile laps around Central Park. Now take yourself on a 30-hour flight from NYC to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. That alone is a big change of scenery; although, I was used to Tanzania, especially Arusha and the northern region of the country. What I didn’t account for, however, was the change from road bike to mountain bike, Central Park to the Maasai Steppe. Let me tell you…it was not easy. My RIDETZ 2010 experience was a grueling, rewarding, eye-opening, and inspiring journey, and I cannot wait to relive it through RIDETZ 2012 in 10 short weeks!
We created RIDETZ to provide an opportunity for TFFT supporters and adventure seekers to see Tanzania in a new light—to witness the culture, land, and people that make TFFT whole. Many people have come to us wanting to see our work in person. RIDETZ is our opportunity to showcase our work while also leading a group of individuals on the ride of their life. This adventure also raises awareness and funds in support of education for orphaned and vulnerable children in East Africa.
This June, with another group of adventurous Americans seeking the road less traveled, we get to do it all over again. We will start at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, where our kids at Usa River Academy will launch us off. We will travel through the Maasai Steppe, tracing the foothills of Kilimanjaro and the Blue Mountains, down slave trade routes that dominated the 19th century, and into the ancient Usambara mountains, where we will visit our kids at Irente Children’s Home. We will finish heading down to the coast, ending in Pangani at the Indian Ocean.
Usa River Academy send-off
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7, Irente Children's Home
Day 8
Day 9
Over the next few months we will use the blog to introduce you to our fabulous riders and to take you along for the 10-day adventure so that you can truly feel it with us. The first set of interviews will be up in the next couple of days, so make sure to come back to meet Gretchen and Mike from Illinois!
I know you all can’t join us this June, but there are a few spots left, so reach out asap if you’re inspired to join the fun. You can also “Ride for a Reason” here in the U.S. Are you eager to make a difference but just can’t make the 10 day trip to Tanzania? Email us! ridetz@thefoundationfortomorrow.org
Impromptu soccer game, mid-ride Day 3