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Braving rough terrain and heavy winds on a mission spanning 8,710 kilometres to raise funds for rural African woman, Sarah French and her cycling partner never imagined their efforts would yield $3.2 million.
On May 18, 2015, the 25-year-old Picton woman and her long-time friend 26-year-old Mary Fehr of Leamington hit the open road biking across Canada, beginning in Victoria B.C. and finishing on September 2, 2015 in St.John’s Newfoundland.
Their goal was to raise $150,000 for the GROW – Greater Rural Opportunities for Women – project that empowers female soy bean farmers in Ghana, Africa.
French says they can’t believe they raised $320,000 and with matching funds from various Canadian government incentives it has flourished into a multi-million dollar contribution.
The PECI grad says it was through her post Carleton University experience interning with MEDA in Nicaragua that she took on a seven month project focusing on sustainable development and agriculture. It was there that she soon realized she wanted to do more to help women in less developed countries.
French says 100 per cent of the funds will be donated with the majority going towards educating farmers in northern Ghana.
French says it was her first hand knowledge of those struggles that drove her throughout her quest to complete the 100 kilometre a day journey.
About five days into their expedition the women would conquer the Coquihalla summit commonly known as Highway Thru Hell on the Discovery Channel television show.
