Closing Ceremonies

By Kimberly Williams, Associate Director, Lasallian Volunteers

As delivered Saturday evening, August 13, 2011, during the final reception of LVs RIDE.

62 days ago on the beach of Fort Stevens State Park in Warrenton, Oregon, this moment was still 3,600 miles away. I can’t imagine how you felt or what you were thinking. On average, you rode 70 miles a day to get here. Most of us will never bike that many miles in a day, let alone 49 days of that kind of mileage.

I was one of the many people who rode with you from the comforts of my computer. While my calves don’t ache, I felt like I was right there with you. Especially from the rider cam videos—that was so cool!

Here is some of what I noticed . . .

Along the way, you encountered all sorts of terrain. Straight, flat, turns, hills, mountains, trees, fields, interstates and back roads. Past cows and sheep. Through cities. Into national parks. You biked in the rain, through storms and snow, as well as intense heat. You encountered challenges that you expected, like flat tires on the side of the road; but also challenges that you didn’t expect, like flies in the van and accidentally laundered cell phones. You probably surprised yourself at how much you ate along the way—a constant stream of pasta, oranges, ice and red vines. Also, from what I understand, you have become connoisseurs of Dairy Queens across the nation.

While I imagine you had so much fun along the way, you were also biking with a purpose. You wanted to raise people’s awareness of poverty in America and you wanted to encourage people to get involved and do something about it, just like the Lasallian Volunteers do.

In a way you experienced a little bit of what you were hoping to teach others about. You left your homes, your belongings and your stuff to go on this journey. In many ways you too were at the mercy of the elements and other people, just like the poor often are.

The Lasallian Volunteers respond to the needs of the poor through education. The ministries and classrooms that they volunteer in are founded on the principles of faith, service, and community. It is because we trust God, because we are available for service, and because we are in this together that we are able to do what we do.

It is clear that you brought these values with you on your pilgrimage. In faith, we develop an awareness of God’s presence, in the same way you become more aware of your surroundings by slowing down and journeying at a bikes pace. In service, we are often given much more then we give, just like you served, but also had so many people serve you along the way. And in community we are able to go much farther together then we would be able to alone.

You clearly formed a community together. You celebrated birthdays and anniversaries. You ate together. You had impromptu dance parties. But you also formed a community with those you met on the way. Those you planned to meet and those you met unexpectedly. As well as those who journeyed with you like I did, from a distance.

It was through this community that you were able to accomplish your goals.

In terms of your goal to build awareness, over 30 media outlets picked up your story along the way.

In terms of your fundraising goal, as of the last time that I checked you have raised 91,951 for the Lasallian Volunteers…not including the checks that are still in the mail.

What is most amazing about that near $92,000 is that the majority of those donations were under $100. They came in $5, $20 and $50 increments. Do you know how many people have to donate for that to add up to $92,000?!

We can’t look at you and see how you were changed on the journey. Granted, some of you have some pretty funky tan lines, and some of you are cinching your belt a bit more. But we are eager to hear from you some of what you saw and learned on the journey.