VE uses “intense physical challenges,” such as biking across countries or climbing mountains, to raise awareness and funds that benefit “hurting and hopeless people around the world.”


Ride:Well Tour
In 2008, VE is organizing a cross-country bike tour to raise funds for Blood:Water Mission. Founded by members of the multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning band Jars of Clay, B:WM strives to bring clean water and clean blood to Africa.

B:WM’s 1,000 Wells Project is a nation-wide effort to raise enough money to provide clean water and sanitation to 1,000 communities in sub-Saharan Africa. The 1000 Wells Project simply asks for $1—enough to provide one African with clean water for an entire year—from each supporter.

Since it’s launch in 2005, the project has partnered with over 300 communities in Africa, providing water for more than 250,000 people.

The 3,150-mile Ride:Well Tour will begin on June 4 in Santa Monica, Calif., with the riders’ back wheels in the Pacific Ocean. The 17-member team, which includes New York Times-bestselling author Donald Miller, two African students, and 14 others, will conclude the trip in Washington, D.C., on July 28.

“It’s been a long-time dream to ride across America. I had actually wanted to do it this year. When the Ride:Well Tour came up, I rearranged my schedule. I am excited most about raising money for Blood:Water and making the ride more meaningful,” Miller said. Miller’s books include: “Blue Like Jazz,” “Searching for God Knows What” and “Through Painted Deserts.”

“The only thing better than riding across America is doing it for the 1,000 Wells Project. When in Uganda last month, I couldn’t help but notice the connection between bikes and water,” Miller said. “Many Africans load up their bicycles with large, 5-gallon containers of water and then haul them back to their houses. I saw as many as five containers being hauled by one small boy. Riding across America to raise money for new wells will be nothing compared to the daily hardships many Africans encounter. I love that this ride will be directly connected to providing clean, and closer, water for thousands of Africans.”

Along the way, the team will host City Rides in Dallas, Nashville, and Washington, D.C., to raise additional funds.

“For the Ride:Well Tour, all participants are required to raise $1,000 in donations for BW:M,” said Aaron Smith, director of VE.

VE is also encouraging churches and corporations to sponsor the bike tour.

“With the Ride:Well Tour, we are expecting to raise between $100,000 and $250,000,” Smith said.


Venture Expeditions
VE’s other two founders, Jesse Olson and Mike Dobbelmann, are still actively involved in the ministry. VE trips have a dual purpose to “Benefit the World” and “Discover the Soul.”

Past VE trips have benefited HIV/AIDS victims in Africa, an orphanage in China, a school in Thailand, Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, Twin Cities residents in need, and many others. Groups have biked across Europe and Thailand, hiked the Superior Hiking Trail, and climbed to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Participants are required to raise a minimum of $1,000 for the specific cause benefited by the trip. Team members also raise funds through donations from people and churches en route. And media attention for each trip helps raise funds through the VE Web site.

Smith said a typical trip can raise anywhere between $4,000 and $25,000.

“All of our partners are Christian organizations that do humanitarian and evangelistic work,” Smith said. “The organizations we support often appeal to a secular audience for the humanitarian work they are doing.”

VE trips in 2008 will benefit B:WM, Shelter for Life, the Philip Hayden Foundation, Global Gateway Network, HEAR Africa Project and Project Rescue.

According to VE’s Web site, team members “Discover the Soul” on trips by being “challenged to identify with Christ’s sacrifice, compassion, courage and character. The extreme nature of the trips helps facilitate “faith-forming and life-changing experiences.”

“Even though our trips are epic and extreme, all types of people participate in our trips,” Smith said. “From summiting Kilimanjaro to bicycling across the United States, our trips challenge people to rely on God for strength.”

VE trip team members go through what the ministry calls the “Discovery Process,” a faith and life development program that helps people “direct their adventurous experience toward Christ.”

“Many people who have gone on trips come back with more confidence and a call to serve with a humanitarian evangelistic organization,” Smith said.

In addition to the Ride:Well Tour, VE is organizing a Northern Minnesota Hike May 21-26, a Mississippi River Tour canoe trip June 2-30, a Minnesota Run from Fargo, N.D., to Duluth Aug. 1-10, and a Thailand Bicycle Tour Dec. 1-12.

“I hope that many people will grow closer to Christ and that we will be able to provide monetary resources and service to humanitarian evangelistic organizations that are building the kingdom of God here on earth,” Smith said.


ACTION POINT:
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or track the progress of the Ride:Well Tour, visit www.ridewelltour.com. For more information on Venture Expeditions trips and causes, visit www.ventureexpeditions.org.