Ten days into a journey from Vancouver, British Columbia to Sydney, Nova Scotia, four post-secondary students from Ontario and Alberta have increased their fundraising goal as they attempt to raise funds, and awareness, for HIV/AIDS research.
The Cycle for CANFAR (Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research) team of Chris Davidge, Tommy Spriet, Yanir Levy and Neil Schmitke has reached Calgary and is within reach of its original fundraising goal.
As of Monday morning, Cycle for CANFAR has reached its original $10,000 goal. The outpouring of support has prompted the team to increase its fundraising goal to $15,000.
Organizer 19-year-old Chris Davidge of Stony Plain, Alberta, said the idea for the fundraiser was sparked by his time teaching in schools and orphanages in Kenya during his gap year.
“Over 90 per cent of the kids I was teaching were infected with HIV and many wouldn't live to see their twentieth birthday,” explains Davidge. “That just broke my heart and I wanted to make a change right then and there.”
The 56 day trip will include stops at schools across Canada where the team will discuss HIV and AIDS with students.
“We’re wanting to put awareness out there because (AIDS) is one of the diseases that has not been publicized as much lately, and it’s still something people to need to understand is a problem,” said 20-year-old Neil Schmitke.
For more information about the fundraising trip, visit Cycle 4 CANFAR.
