Clark Ellice endorses Poverty Cycle event in New Plymouth

PRESS RELEASE

Date: Thursday November 25 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Clark Ellice endorses Poverty Cycle event in New Plymouth

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

One of four family-friendly iconic cycle rides will be held in New Plymouth on Saturday March 5, 2011, with others taking place on the same day in Auckland, Christchurch and Nelson.

The aim is for each participant to seek financial sponsorship from their community to complete the cycle route. Funds raised from the New Plymouth ride will go to a Taranaki community organisation and to TEAR Fund’s projects overseas. Top local triathlete Clark Ellice is getting behind the event. Ellice said there many reasons to support TEAR Fund’s Poverty Cycle. Firstly, it was a local event that would benefit the people of Taranaki by raising money for a community charity as well as the poor overseas being helped by TEAR Fund, he said.

“Secondly, I am passionate about cycling, and I am happy to endorse a charity event that raises awareness of poverty issues and encourages people to get fit and enjoy cycling.”

The event will also include 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.

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.” He said this new TEAR Fund initiative allowed Kiwis to help break the cycle of poverty, by participating in the Poverty Cycle. “We are excited about this new venture and we 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.

Check out website www.povertycycle.org.nz to `get fit, have fun and make a difference’.

- Ends -

© Scoop Media