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Article featured in Beijing This Month, August 2004
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English 1000, Chinese 1000

Silk Road Meets Pedal Power

2004/07/29
By Les Charlton

Seven Beijing-based bicyclists are now in their last month of training before setting out on a 12,872-kilometre charity ride to Venice, Italy.

The six-man, one-woman International Silk Road Adventure Team is expected to depart the Chinese capital on September 1, and plans to arrive in Marco Polo's birthplace before Christmas.

The cyclists' trip, with the theme "Pedal Ahead for Education," is designed as an educational fund-raiser with a target of US$400,000. Organizers believe education can reduce poverty and the crime rate, promote cultural understanding and make an immeasurable contribution to world peace.

If sponsors and other donors come up with the money they need, the team will disburse it in especially needy places along their route, which includes China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia-Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. Greece, Slovenia and Italy will not get any aid, because they are considered developed countries.

Chinese children with HIV/AIDS are high on the recipients' list. A statement from the organizers, which include Beijing's Ivy Discovery Institute, the Italian Embassy Cultural Office, and Italy's Marco Polo 2001 organization, said: "All funds generated will go directly to supporting educational and awareness campaigns … for example, in China, to the Positive Art Workshop to help children with HIV/AIDS.

 "While on the one hand we are appealing for sponsors all along our cycle route, for which they will receive publicity and recognition for their generosity through the media, and by other means, Chinese and foreign high- and middle-schools will be involved in fund-raising for the project by playing a Silk Road game we are developing.

For more information, please e-mail: beijing_entp@yahoo.com.



 
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