As the first in a series of first-Friday-of-the-month posts about charitable causes, I thought it would be appropriate to kick things off with an event that is very close to my family's heart. The Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon takes place as a part of the annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, covering 200 miles in just two days and raising money for the Wellspring Foundation which endeavors to transform a generation of Rwandans struggling after being born in the shadow of genocide.
Why this particular cause? Ben was an wonderfully spiritual human being, a philanthropist, a charity worker and an avid cyclist; most importantly, he was a loving son, brother and grandson. He was my cousin, partner in good-natured "crime" and cottage fort building buddy.
Shortly after graduating from university, Ben embarked on the trip of a lifetime with five of his best friends from school (they called themselves the "Safari Six"), traveling through war-torn parts of Africa and even scaling Kilimanjaro. Rwanda changed Ben. It was almost as if a switch was flipped when he came back to Canada; he wrote that the atrocities and oppression deeply moved him, and resolved to be a part of building a better future for Rwanda's children. Over a late night cup of tea at his house in Vancouver, he told me how charged he felt to go back there and make the difference he knew the country needed. A couple months later, Ben was back in Rwanda with the Wellspring Foundation, using his skills as a web guru, builder (those sessions at the cottage fort must've helped!) and cameraman to not only construct a future for the kids over there, but to document the progress that the country was making towards reconciliation.
Through e-mail updates from Rwanda, Ben shared the progress Wellspring was making in Kigali - it was a mix of humor and insight; he really touched the lives of people there, just by being himself. Ben was training for the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic when he was struck in Langley, British Columbia. At 25 years old, Ben was compassionate, loving, and contributed positively to a cause greater than himself. The Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon will raise money for Wellspring's educational efforts in Rwanda, and shape a future generation of Rwandans committed to peace, stability and dialogue.
For more information, please visit the Facebook page, or donate directly to Wellspring in honor of an amazing person who accomplished so much in such a short time on Earth. Twese Hamwe is the motto of the ride, which Ben's sister and brother-in-law will be participating in this year, and it means all together in Rwandan.
All together, Ben. See you on the finish line.
