While parts of the world see a decline in HIV and AIDS, grandmothers in Africa continue to face a pandemic, funding cuts, and increased burden. It’s a pattern their peers in Victoria, and Vancouver Island, look to counter with financial support.
“AIDS once wiped out an entire generation, and now with the ruthless execution of U.S. executive orders, once more, we are condemning people to die,” Lewis said, speaking to severe cuts to American aid funds.
Victoria Grandmothers are cycling to fill the funding gap.
For 19 years – as part of the the Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation – thousands of grandmothers and grandothers have committed to raising awareness, building solidarity and mobilizing funds for local, community-led organizations that support African grandmothers and the children in their care.
The Victoria Grandmothers for Africa (VG4A) welcomes new members from beginners to experienced cyclists 55 and older to ride with them as they raise funds. Each woman decides how far she will go and chooses her ride, whether a regular bike, e-bike, or stationary bike.
VG4A members Laurie Wilson and Bonnie Yarish recently visited grandmothers in several organizations in South Africa and Eswatini that receive foundation funding, including the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, north of Durban.
“HACT is a truly amazing place,” Wilson said. “A place where love and hope transform lives,” the centre runs a hospice with 24 beds, supervises 47 grandmother support groups; trains 2,000 girls to meet life and health challenges; offer home-based care; sets up community gardens; and initiates income generating projects.
Open to women 55 and older, the Cycle Tour launches at 9 a.m. Aug. 10 at Mile Zero in Victoria with a series of ride options laid out from 25 km, to the two-day ferry ride, to the full-on Campbell River-return, three-day, 275 km affair that runs Sept. 5 to 7.
Learn more and register ($20) at vg4a.ca/Cycle-Tour.
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