NCU Helps Bring Water to Africa
Minneapolis, MN - Several NCU Alum have just capped off the six week Ride:Well Bike Tour with Venture Expeditions, of which NCU is a proud sponsor, to raise awareness and money for BLOOD:WATER MISSION, which has made its goal to build 1000 wells in African communities without access to clean water. (Since 2004 B:WM has built over 340 for 11 African countries.)
Ryan Skoog (00, Missions; Venture Expeditions Co-Founder) and Drew Nelson (06, Pastoral Studies) were part of a 14-rider team who biked from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. where this past week, team members literally rode their bikes into the Atlantic ocean upon completion of the cross-country ride. Aaron Smith (04, Journalism) currently serves as Venture Expeditions' Director.
 |
| From Left: Aaron Smith, Drew Nelson, Nate Ruch (NCU Exec. Director of University Relations), Paul Hurckman, Jesse Olson, and Brianna Olson. All are NCU Alumni. |
In one week alone during the ride (June 4 – July 28), the Ride:Well team raised over $100,000. It started in Dallas, after a one-day ride hosted by The Oaks Fellowship. The ride culminated in an evening event with Brandon Heath (new Christian Artist of the Year) and Donald Miller speaking. The community rallied, the church was blessed and over $28,000 was raised.
Two nights later, 10 churches got together to host the team complete with a police escort through town and a benefit event attended by over 2200 people with Sara Groves performing and Don speaking again. Two TV stations, two newspapers, and 4 radio stations covered the event. Skoog said, “The town is still buzzing and money is still coming in after raising over $78,000 that night!"
 |
| Nate Ruch with the Ride:Well Team |
To learn more about the team, Blood:Water Mission, and Venture Expeditions:
Donald Miller's mobile blog while riding on the tour is: