(Spirit Lake)– Some Episcopalians from throughout Iowa are pedaling their bikes across the state in order to provide pure drinking water to an impoverished part of the world.
The riders made their way into Spirit Lake Monday evening where they spent the night with host families from St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.
Father Mitchell Smith of Waterloo is one of the riders. He tells KUOO news they’ve dubbed their operation “Waters of Hope”. He says they’re using their bike ride to help raise funds to purify drinking water in Swaziland and Sudan. Father Smith says 4,500 children under the age of five die each year in those South African countries because of drinking water containing parasites and diseases.
Father Smith says the money they’re raising will be used to purchase devices to chlorinate the water and to dig new wells.
Father Smith says they have a broad cross-section of people involved in the ride, including a bio-chemist from the University of Iowa; a priest from Missouri; and two people from Nebraska…among others.
The ride started May 1st in Keokuk and concludes May 10th in Iowa City.
The riders departed Spirit Lake Tuesday morning for the next leg of their trip to Mason City.
You can keep up to date with the bike ride and learn more about the fundraising effort by visiting www.watersofhope.org.
