A big shout out to Chris Evans for his $500.00 donation. Chris and I have been friends since he threw mashed potatoes at me through the wire mesh that separates the hooligan kitchen staff from the stoic bartenders inside the Pioneer Pub’s refrigerator. The mesh was there to keep the kitchen staff out of the kegs! I evened the score by taking him down for a count of 3 between the pub and beer and wine store although I am sure he has a different version of this story. He was also the drummer in the band we played in and we shared many good times.

I also wanted to mention the flood of early donations has really been awesome, we are almost at $2,000! This money will not only go a long way to helping the cause but will also increase the amount of donors when I travel the country. This helps legitimize the cause in a way seeing more and more donors and early on. I will be putting together some training videos so stay tuned.

Cheers
Jeff

Words of wisdom from donor Bruce Lee (aka canine extraordinaire): Be formless… shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You pour water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put water into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow, or creep or drip or crash! Be water, my friend…”

Hi folks,

No Tax receipts for Canadians:

I just want make sure you are all aware that this is an American charity and there will be no tax receipts for Canadians who donate. It is a little unfortunate and water.org is looking into opening a Canadian office but until then we are out of luck.

Buying road!

On a happier note I am posting anyone who donates $25 or more on google maps. You pick the road (first donate first serve) and I will map it and eventually take pictures for you when I ride it.

Water.org is an American charity so no tax receipts for Canadians (sorry).

I will let them do the talking as far as their approach:

The water and sanitation problem in the developing world is far too big for charity alone. We are driving the water sector for new solutions, new financing models, greater transparency, and real partnerships to create lasting change. Our vision: the day when everyone in the world can take a safe drink of water.

Co-founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org is a nonprofit organization that has transformed hundreds of communities in Africa, South Asia, and Central America by providing access to safe water and sanitation.

Water.org traces its roots back to the founding of WaterPartners in 1990. In July 2009, WaterPartners merged with H2O Africa, resulting in the launch of Water.org. Water.org works with local partners to deliver innovative solutions for long-term success. Its microfinance-based WaterCredit Initiative is pioneering sustainable giving in the sector.

Back to me:
The great thing is they allow me to create my own fundraising page. Check it out: http://give.water.org/f/dollarakilometer/

While it was clear I wanted to ride across Canada so I could learn about my home and the people who lived here, something burned in me to do more than just petty self interest.

It struck me how water is not a common topic in the media nor in our mindsets yet parts of the world are already in crisis now. In Canada we have a huge abundance of fresh drinking water so many of us take it for granted. While this explains part of it, what about the media and news coverage?

I started brainstorming about how to generate awareness: linking water projects and technology, sharing intellectual knowledge on water purification rather than relying on large corporations to solve our water problems, creating my own water project and NGO.

I quickly realized this area is flooded with NGO’s, water technology is shared knowledge and there were already many projects on the go. I decided the most effective way would be to find a water project or NGO that was well established and worked directly with the community to solve their water problems.

The search was on!

It was the morning of January 1st and I was laying in bed while my pug Marley gingerly snored from my suitcase full of clothes. I was 39 and living half unpacked in a house under construction wondering what had become of my life. Uncle Dan’s comment just wouldn’t leave my mind. Right then and I there I committed to the trip.

P.S. surprisingly there was no hangover to speak of so the decision was a clear one.

After Christmas dinner I was talking to my uncle Dan about my desire to once again explore the world and a trip of significant proportion. You see I had done just that in 2004 riding through parts of Asia.Very simply he suggested “why don’t you ride across Canada”.

Well it stuck, an idea was born that I couldn’t shake from my consciousness.