Wednesday November 24 2010
International Aid Agency TEAR Fund aims to generate $500,000 for at-risk children in New Zealand and globally, with the new TEAR Fund Poverty Cycle event in March 2011.

The event will comprise a promotional ride covering the length of the country with two core teams of up to eight members, cycling over 10 days. They will ride the 630kms from February 22 to Friday March 4, 2011. The North and South Island teams will converge on the steps of Parliament to present to a politician or the Prime Minister a letter about their concern for poverty and how New Zealanders can make a difference. This will be followed by a free concert in Wellington.

The event will include four family-friendly iconic cycle rides in Nelson, New Plymouth, Auckland and Christchurch on Saturday March 5, 2011. The aim is for each participant to seek financial sponsorship from their community to complete the cycle route.

“This is a great opportunity for everyday Kiwis to play their part in breaking the cycle of poverty. It’s so easy to get overwhelmed by the needs that surround us, said TEAR Fund Poverty Cycle endorser and Kiwi sporting legend, former All Black, Michael Jones. The TEAR Fund Poverty Cycle is an opportunity for all New Zealanders to get fit, have fun and make a difference.”

TEAR Fund executive director Stephen Tollestrup said, “TEAR Fund is a Christian organisation that provides assistance to the world’s poorest. Our goal is to provide long-term sustainable solutions to poverty in the developing world. Poverty is a vicious cycle of despair, humiliation and oppression. This new TEAR Fund initiative allows Kiwis to help break the cycle of poverty, by participating in the Poverty Cycle.

We are excited about this new venture and believe this event will allow New Zealanders to make an extraordinary difference.” TEAR Fund was registered as an NGO in 1975. Its projects include Disaster Relief, Community Development, Microenterprise and Child Sponsorship. TEAR Fund is the third largest Non- Government Organisation in New Zealand, with a supporter base of 45,000.

Start gathering a group together and collecting sponsors for the nearest poverty cycle near you. Check out website that goes live from Tuesday 23rd November www.povertycycle.org.nz to `get fit, have fun and make a difference’.

ENDS

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