Charities to Benefit from 20,000 kms Motorbike Challenge Through Asia

Hong Kong-based charitable foundation Wheel2Wheel has revealed which charities and NGOs will benefit from its 100-day enduro-motorbike challenge across 20,000 kilometres through ten countries to Australia.

The Wheel2Wheel fundraiser, supporting one charitable organisation in each country, sets-off from Hong Kong on 1 March 2011 – through China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Timor Leste to eventually reach Brisbane in Australia.

“We are delighted that after 18 months intensive due diligence, sifting through hundreds of worthwhile causes across the region, we are now able to announce the ten amazing charitable organisations we will be supporting. These organisations and the people behind them are heroes to us. Their humanitarian endeavours demand our attention and we want to celebrate them,” said Morgan Parker, founder of Wheel2Wheel.

Hong Kong - Wheel2Wheel is supporting the Clean Air Network (CAN) which combats air pollution and aims to mobilise public support for cleaner air in Hong Kong. Donations received will support campaigns to raise awareness of the problem and influence public, private and government action.

China - Wheel2Wheel is supporting the GECKO Project which teaches Chinese school students about environmental sustainability. GECKO currently provides thousands of school children across China with access to the latest environmental education that is not part of the government curriculum. Donations received through Wheel2Wheel will help provide an online learning resource.

“We always look for 'out of the box' awareness campaigns that help people understand the challenges of sustainable development in China and the importance of environmental education. We are excited to join Wheel2Wheel team during their South China journey and introduce the responsible tourism and sustainability to the local schools” said Mihela Hladin, Director, Greennovate (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Vietnam - Support for Animals Asia, a charity fighting to end the torture of moon bears in Vietnam. Wheel2Wheel’s journey to Animal Asia’s sanctuary aims to raise awareness of this inhumane and illegal business. Donations will be used to sponsor the rehabilitation of additional moon bears rescued from exploitation.

Laos - Wheel2Wheel is supporting Child's Dream which brings education and healthcare to under-privileged children across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. There is a critical shortage of schools and access to education in the region, with Laos having the lowest literacy rates. Donations received through Wheel2Wheel will fund the building of new schools in Laos.

“Child’s Dream Foundation is a charitable, not for profit organisation, helping children and communities in need in the Mekong Sub-Region. We are very pleased to have been chosen by Wheel2Wheel as the charity partner for Laos on their very exciting trip from Hong Kong to Brisbane. All funds received will be put towards our goal of widening access to education for every child in Laos. A dedicated Wheel2Wheel school building will be built in Laos,” said Marc Thomas Jenni, Co-founder, Child's Dream.

Thailand - Wheel2Wheel will support Baan Gerda, a unique orphanage which focuses on improving the lives of children born with HIV, with the ultimate aim of enabling them to assimilate productively into Thai society. Funds raised will help the development of an organic farming project providing learning, employment and income for the residents at Baan Gerda.

Cambodia - Wheel2Wheel has chosen to support New Hope which provides food, medical aid and social services to impoverished communities in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The donations received through Wheel2Wheel will support the building of a community centre and develop enterprises to bring income into the community.

Malaysia - Support is going to Women's Aid Organisation, a respected pioneer for women’s rights in Malaysia. Discrimination, access to education and violence against women continues to be a significant global issue and Wheel2Wheel donations will directly support the counseling service, child care centre and refuge for women victims of violence in Malaysia.

"Wheel2Wheel, this is adventure with a heart, it is a receiving beneficiary's dream. It combines fund raising, public education, reshaping mindsets, Asian diversity and commonality, and a little bit of glamour. We are excited to be part of the Wheel2Wheel adventure in 2011" said Ivy Josiah, Executive Director, Women's Aid Organisation.

Indonesia - Funding from Wheel2Wheel is for PanEco, an organization that is committed to preventing deforestation, preserving the wildlife habitats and improving the lives of the local people. The coastal peat swamp forests of Aceh, Northern Sumatra, are among the most precious natural habitats in the world, but are threatened by palm-oil plantations. Donations received via Wheel2Wheel will support the preservation of the Tripa peat swamp forest and aim to halt the cataclysmic release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

“We are glad to announce, that PanEco and YEL were chosen as the Wheel2Wheel partners in Indonesia. Our commitment to the preservation of the Tripa rainforests, campaigning for responsible palm plantations, and conservation of the Sumatran orangutan impressed Wheel2Wheel, so they will visit our projects in Aceh in May 2011. We hope that the support from Wheel2Wheel will help us raise awareness of these issues and continue this important work" said Regina Frey, President, PanEco.

Timor Leste - The Action for Change Foundation in Timor Leste helps build a brighter future for vulnerable youths through training and sport. The area has suffered from violent conflict for over a decade and with few options, many turn to gangs and street crime, perpetuating the cycle of violence. Money raised by donations will help promote peace and non-violence among street gangs by providing sports and job-skills.

Australia - At the journey’s end in Australia, donations will benefit the North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) to help promote practical indigenous conservation land and sea management. For over 40,000 years, indigenous Australians have been living in harmony with the land and sea, developing a unique understanding of nature and approach to conservation. Wheel2Wheel aims to showcase this rich environmental heritage of indigenous Australians for the world’s education.

Wheel2Wheel is welcoming donations for this unique social activism adventure. One fun way to donate is to Live the Dream and ‘Own-a-Km’ for as little as HK$100 by purchasing a kilometre of the epic journey. Wheel2Wheel says that all donations received are allocated 100% to the ten charitable organisations.

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