Hey all,
We are at it again. This year took a little bit to get nailed down. But Matthew (old) Finley (15), Piper (12) and Ollie (11) are ready to ride. Last month, Sharon had a bit of a crash which has placed her on injured reserve for this year's ride. She will be driving sag wagon.
Our ride will be the 3rd section of the Mississippi River trail. In year one we started at the Canadian border, went to Itasca State Park, the headwaters of the Mississippi River and rode down to Hastings, Minnesota. Last year we took off from Hastings, Minnesota; crossed into Wisconsin and road down to Keithsburg, Illinois.
Well, 2022 is here and we are starting at Keithsburg, Illinois and heading to the very southern tip, Cairo, Illinois! Let's face it, the state of Illinois is VERY LONG! This will be approximately 415 miles. Last year we faced over 13,000 feet of climb and this year it is about half that. To say we are excited is an understatement!
More than the ride though is the people we get to support. We have fallen in love with the Dominican Republic and a group of people in Santiago, Dominican Republic in particular. Once again we are partnering with Pastor Pedro Juan to bless the ministry of his church and other churches in the area. In particular, we hope to raise $7,000 toward education and equipping the next generation of the Church down there. The money will be used for pastors, churches, classes and all that goes into teaching people.
This goal is a bit different than our previous couple of years. It won't be the finishing of a building which is easily seen, but an investment in the people of Santiago and the surrounding communities. The success of this ride and these donations won't result in images of completed buildings or fresh paint, it will result in stories from men and women who have been impacted by your gift.
We ride for the Dominican Republic and have continuously been humbled by your generosity. Join us once again in supporting the ride and the people of the Dominican Republic! Sponsor a mile for $4.25 or sponsor a hundred. A lump sum or a few dollars will edge us closer to our goal.
LET'S RIDE!
Donation Information and directions
Go to THIS LINK.
Click the button that says "Add Another Account" and then select "Ride For the Dominican. Follow the rest of the directions and click "next."
Commonly Asked Questions
How much of my money goes toward the bikes, camping, and food etc? None. The Morkens have zero access to the money that is donated and all but the the fee to wire it goes to Pedro Juan in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Is this ride connected to Veritas Church in any way? No. This is not a ministry of Veritas church in any way, shape or form. While we both work for Veritas, they are not affiliated with this ride whatsoever. Veritas graciously allows us to use their giving system to help make it easier. In this is also built in accountability for your donation.
How much money does Veritas Church get from my donation? None. They graciously help us wire the money down to Santiago and do not take any percentage of what we receive.
How else can I help? Pray! Pray for safety and for great weather. Share our posts. It is a task to get ahead of Facebooks algorithms. Help us by sharing our photos, stories, and updates.
