Cycling coast to coast for WaterAid

News

Ode Magazine Yobo Member
November 12th, 2010

Brittany App, photographer from San Luis Obispo, California, and Garrett Russell, videographer of Portland, Oregon, are on a mission to raise awareness to bring fresh drinking water to those who need it most.

Biking from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida, this duo is determined to complete a total of 3,159 miles over a span of three months. Traveling along the Southern Tier, a route established by the Adventure Cycling Association, they average forty to seventy miles each day. Documenting their journey as they pass through each city, town, and community, App and Russell are raising more than just awareness of the earth’s water crisis; they are raising funds that will go to WaterAid, an international charity working to provide fresh and clean water to people who need it in Asia and Africa.

On average, the experienced cyclist can complete the Southern Tier in seven to twelve weeks. However, App and Russell’s goal is not how fast they are able to complete the journey; it is the seed they spread along the way. Throughout the trip, App is writing, taking pictures and blogging daily to spread awareness of the global water crisis. Russell is filming a documentary, which he says, “is about the people, who they are, what they care about, what their causes are, and what they want for the next generation.”

As I chat with Russell over the phone, he is currently on the side of I-10, where he rests in the town of Comfort, Texas, after a long day’s ride. It is 7:00 p.m. He and App have changed a total of five flat tires just today. They are completely exhausted as they sit at a local park in Comfort, barbecuing with strangers to wind down the day. The most rewarding part of this project, as Russell claims is, “without question, making personal, tangible connections with people along the way.” Russell exemplifies this while spending leisure time with the locals, who generously invite them to share in their barbecue.

When I ask Russell what he and App hope to accomplish on this voyage, beyond raising money, he describes their trip as a radio tower, explaining that they leave fingerprints on each place they visit–it’s like “emitting little beacons.” Not only will their small interactions with individuals plant seeds of thought, but will gain momentum through word of mouth and hopefully raise public awareness of the Global Water Crisis.

In this way, App and Russell will help bring new opportunities to the nearly 900 million people who don’t have access to one of life’s essentials: clean water. Setting up a well in a community that didn’t previously have access to safe water is a revolution; it simply and radically changes the lives of local people. The duo is currently halfway through the journey and they have already been able to raise over half their goal of $20,000. The money will go to WaterAid in support for bringing clean, safe, and sanitized water to the developing world.

Photo courtesy of Cycling for Water.

If you would like to donate, learn more about the cause or about WaterAid, visit cyclingforwater.com. You can also catch their video here: