While ascending the Coquihalla Hwy. on their way from Vancouver to Calgary, a quintet of activists were nearly washed out in their efforts to raise awareness and funds for those struggling for a safe water supply.
Wheels for Well’s David Custer said he fell hypothermic thanks to a blast of chilly rain last Friday during a tough start to the fourth annual event.
“I was absolutely frozen, I had to strip off all my clothes for a wardrobe change and warm myself with a hair dryer,” said Custer.
Even so, the activist said the experience wouldn’t have him trading places with those his group has pledged to help.
“It (the marathon) would never be as hard as finding safe water in a place where feeding your child could make them sick,” said Custer, as the group made its way past Canmore Monday on the last leg of their 1,000-km trip.
“The water is so pure in the Rockies.”
During this month’s journey through Canada’s western mountains, the group has survived on nothing but water from natural sources along the way — waterfalls, springs and rivers.
Last February, during another marathon road trip in Tanzania, Custer saw first-hand the daily challenges of those he is riding to raise awareness for.
David Custer
“We obviously weren’t collecting water along the route in Tanzania — we had a support vehicle with bottled water,” said Custer.
It’s that contrast Wheels for Wells is seeking to highlight, he said, as the group has had few concerns about the safety of water consumed during their latest travels.
The group has only had to filter its water once in the past five days, he said.
Perhaps the biggest threat facing the cyclists in the Rockies were parasites like giardia which are generally avoided by drinking from mountain springs, said Custer.
“In the developing world, it can range anywhere form difficult to impossible to find that kind of water,” he said.
Their campaign is also raising funds to provide clean water wells for people in Africa, something the charity has done for those in Mauritania, Somalia, Kenya and Sudan, said Custer.
“Those four wells have affected 50,000 lives,” he said.
It’s hoped the latest ride will raise at least $20,000 to construct a well in Tanzania that will benefit up to 12,000 people.
Wheels for Wells is also hosting a fundraiser Sept. 10 in Canmore.
For more information on that and to donate, go to wheelsforwells.ca
