cycling

Members of the Wounded Warriors of Canada joined other servicemen and women from the U.S. and Britain to begin this ride from Paris, France yesterday, May 27th. They will reach London on June 2nd after cycling past historic battlefields from World Wars I and II and paying homage to all who sacrificed for our freedom. In London 1,300 other riders taking part in the 2013 Hero Ride will join them, cycling to the capital from all corners of the country.

While we are talking about heroes, I also want to shine a spotlight on a couple of literacy programs. Read To Feed is a school-based program whose tag line is “Teaching Children to Be Everyday Heroes”. It delivers a reading incentive service-learning agenda that offers global education opportunities and fosters in children a love for reading, a passion to help others and a motivation to make a difference in creating a better world.

As students read through teacher-organized programs, they collect pledges that will be collected as they reach their reading goals. As the website attests, “No matter the size of the gift, the impact is great. Just $20 buys a flock of chicks, which can provide a family protein through eggs and an income. For $60, students can buy trees to provide fruit for a family and at the same time help protect the soil. For $120, students can give a family a goat, which provides milk for the home and to sell for income to pay for school fees, medical care and to use to build a better, more hopeful life.”

Equally as important are programs that benefit those in our own countries and Project Night Night is one. No one needs to be reminded that children are the innocent victims of so many situations that forever impact their life. This organization works with 10,000 volunteers each year to provide homeless children with a “night-time comfort package” which includes a stuffed animal, an age appropriate book and a security blanket. Here’s how you can get involved.

Recently, a friend in Toronto told me about a birthday party her ten-year-old had attended where the guests were asked to bring a new book or two as their gift. These were all donated to the Children’s Book Bank, an organization that ensures books are made available to children who otherwise might go without.

The birthday girl and her parents delivered the books to the Book Bank’s office the following weekend and a thank-you card was sent to each child who had donated. I thought it was one of the best birthday ideas I had heard in a long time! If you have heard of similar opportunities that encourage children’s involvement in charitable undertakings, let me know. I love passing news like this on!

BookExpo America begins tomorrow in New York City. Bookaholics rejoice! The biggest event in North America for the book publishing industry, it brings together publishers, editors, agents, authors and readers. The public is welcome to attend and discover the newest books and authors from around the world. It’s a regular Lollapalooza for book lovers!

Next year one of my goals is to be there in the midst of all the exciting book buzz. Are you going?