Tour de Revs to arrive in Indianpolis 100 Days for Hunger and Wellness

TOUR de REVS

 www.tourderevs.org

Contact: Walda Helvie
                859/380-1188
OR          Danielle Burrus
                 317/253-3522

INDIANAPOLIS -- From Friday, May 13 through Thursday, August 20, 2009, three Lutheran pastors from West Virginia will put foot to pedal and seat to saddle on a bamboo bicycle, traveling over 13,000 miles to raise awareness and secure donations to help eliminate domestic and world hunger. Sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the “Revs” will be in Indianapolis, Friday, May 15 through Saturday, May 16, 2009, eventually making stops in 65 cities.

The Tour de Revs’ goal is to encourage contributions from individuals, congregations and the public to help the meet ELCA’s $25 million dollar World Hunger goal set in 1999. The “Revs” (Reverends), David Twedt, Ron Schlak, and Fred Soltow, have an average age of 60, with over 70 years of successful leadership within the Lutheran Church and have a joint commitment to wellness which is another driving force for this incredible journey.

Indianapolis events will offer opportunities for local cyclists to join the “Revs” in two events. Helmets and a signed waiver will be required for Indianapolis cyclists on both Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th. The first event is May 15th at 6 p.m. beginning and ending at Lamb of God Lutheran Church, 5565 N Moller Road., Indianapolis, IN, 317-291-2999. The tour will begin by riding 1 mile west to West 56th Street along scenic Eagle Creek Park for a 7 mile ride with the “Revs”. In case of inclement weather, the ride will be cancelled. However, the public is invited to attend a program at Lamb of God Lutheran Church that evening, at 7:30 p.m.

The second event is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th at 8 a.m. and will begin and end at the Jordan YMCA parking lot, 8400 Westfield Blvd., Indianapolis, IN, 317-253-3206. Cyclists will ride the Monon Trail to Gleaners Food Bank at 1102 E 16th St., 317-925-0191. A brief program is planned for 9:15 a.m., with presenters from Indianapolis area food banks: Robert Wilson, Major Gifts Manger, Gleaners Food Bank; Dennis Wimer, Executive Director of Lutheran Child and Family Services and its food pantry, The Sharing Place; and David Miner, representing Bread for the World and Interfaith Hunger Initiative. The return trip to the Jordan YMCA will leave Gleaners at 10:45 a.m. and arrive at approximately 11:30 a.m. In case of inclement weather, the ride will be cancelled, but the Tour requests that the public attend the morning’s program scheduled for 9:15 a.m.

Additional Bamboo Bike Information
The bike that will carry the Tour de Revs is a custom made BAMBOO, 3-person bike, a “triplet” with numerous features that make it an excellent material for a bicycle frame. Bamboo has excellent tensional rigidity with the dampening quality of carbon fiber and the durability of steel.

Bamboo is a readily available, self-generating, renewable resource that leaves no carbon foot-print. The bamboo is smoked and treated to prevent splitting. It is then sealed with tung-oil to preserve the bamboo while providing an au-naturale finish. The drive-train and components on bike are Shimano-Ulterga, designed for durability and dependability. The wheels are custom built to carry the 600 lb. payload over the 13,000 miles of the Tour de Revs.

Editor’s Note – Local Food and Hunger Organizations
Gleaners Food Bank:  Over 137,000 Hoosiers are not hungry today because Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana provides food and critical groceries to hunger relief charities.  Gleaners, a member of Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest), was established in 1980. The food bank has distributed over 230 million pounds of food and critical grocery products to over 430 hunger relief charities serving Hoosiers in need in 20 central Indiana counties.  www.gleaners.org.

The Sharing Place: A ministry of Lutheran Child and Family Services, The Sharing Place is a materials assistance program that provides free food and clothing to children, individuals and families in need. The ministry offers an additional service with programs that provide individual, group and family therapy. Serving over 30,000 families in 2008, The Sharing Place is located at 7049 E. 10th Street on Indianapolis’ east side (317/359-6566).  www.lutheranfamily.org

Bread for the World:  Serving as a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad, Bread for the World members write personal letters and emails to meet with our representatives in Congress. By changing policies, programs and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, the organization’s mission is to provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities in which we live. Bread.org for international activities; local Indiana activities BreadIndiana.org.

Interfaith Hunger Initiative: In the fall of 2007 Jim Morris, returned from five years as head of the World Food Program of the United Nations, and challenged about 20 Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders in Indianapolis to come together to end child hunger. Jim reminded us that all of our faith traditions encourage us to “feed the hungry”.  Two important initiatives are raising funds for Gleaners Food Bank and a Kenya school lunch program. More information can be found at InterfaithHungerInitiative.org

By Betty R. Darbro, Foundation for Lutheran Child and Family Services

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