BIKE 4 MALI - Are We There Yet?

Financial Progress

So far, we are near to $5 per mile. This totals to an overall donation of $20,000 for the Koutiala Hospital. A big thank you to those who have already donated or made a pledge to support the ride. We ask that others would consider a donation or a pledge as well.
Status as of July 27, 2008

Projected Route

Drag your mouse over the map below to see how far we've come!
(If the map doesn't load in a moment or two, try refreshing the page.)

So far, Bruce has ridden over 4100 miles across California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine -- and has therefore completed his route across the United States!!
Location and distance as of August 6, 2008

Starting Point: Clam Beach, California (near Trinidad, California)

Head to Redding, California via Rt. 299

Then to Reno, Nevada & across Nevada & Utah

A scheduled break with family - we will drive to St. George, to see the Grand Canyon

Resume the ride, heading to Colorado

Stop at the national office of the C&MA/Orchard Foundation in Colorado Springs

Then east across Nebraska to Omaha

And on across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana

Scheduled rest and visit with family in Indianapolis

Northeast through Ohio to the shores of Lake Erie

Then on to Pennsylvania & New York where I will ride parts of the Erie Canal bike trail

Northeast across the Adirondak Park, then to Plattsburgh

Across Vermont and New Hampshire
Southeasterly across Maine
Concluding at Old Orchard Beach - a location significant in the early days of the C&MA

This ride is estimated at taking about 10 weeks, and it began June 2, 2008. The trip is approximately 3900 miles and the hope is to average 60-70 miles a day. We hope to have made it to Old Orchard Beach, ME by the first or second week of August!
After the Ride itself is finished, Bruce plans to go to Africa. This will be in October, and he will be riding from Bamako to Koutiala to personally delilver to them the funds raised from this endeavor.

Clikc here for the PDF file of the full Route from Clam Beach, CA to Old Orchard Beach, ME
Please Note: The PDF was written before the ride began, and while we've always been pretty close to what is stated on there as far as dates and locations, have not always been right on the mark with it. We are now, however, back on schedule and should be on or ahead of it for the remainder of the trip. --Christina

Bruce hopes that this extreme fundraiser will send over a million dollars to the Women and Children's Hospital in Koutiala, Mali, West Africa. We will soon be able to post how much of each kind of donation has come in, and how much that means for the hospital's additions. To see what a pledge of a penny, nickel or dime add up to, please click the "Support the Ride" link on the left.

Updates

Click here for the news article published on Friday, April 25, 2008!

Letter Excerpt from a worker in Mali!

Friends and family,

It has been a while since we have written. We have been swept up in the life of the hospital and I realize that I need to take more time to communicate. God continues to be so very good to us. Plenty has happened since our last letter - perhaps the greatest thing is that Gos has sent us a hospital administrator!! Craig and Marilyn Hanscombe joined the team here in January. Craig has hit the ground running and is pushing the hospital forward in a dozen directions simultaneously. I marvel at God's goodness. Six months ago I had never heard of Craig and Marilyn. We were quite discouraged, seeing so many needs and feeling so inadequate. It seemed all we could do to keep our heads above water at the hospital, let alone take concrete steps to move forward. To think that we would find someone with financial and administrative experience, who also understood Africa and spoke French and would be willing to move to Koutiala and dive in, seemed like a naive dream. Now, here we are six months later and the entire picture looks different. I am continuously amazed at God's timing and kindness. We have seen one miraculous porvision after another.

155 babies were delivered at the hospital in the month of March. There are lots of preemies and 4 sets of twins in the house right now. It is amazing to see little two pound babies make it when you consider how little technology we have to offer.

We have had several visiting medical teams in the past 6 months. Each team leaves us stronger than we were before, as we are slowly expanding our competence and confidence. It is great fun to see the progress. 2008 looks to finish strong as we are nearing completion of a large storage building and preparing to start construction of the new maternity complex.

Thank you for your faithful prayer and support of us. It is your kindness in giving that allows us to stay out here. We are humbled by your friendships.

-Dan, Marcy, Emma, Ellie and Maggie

Update from a worker in Mali!

A worker recently told us some more-specific needs in Mali. Here are some of the types of things your donations will go towards to meet their needs.

As you may have noticed, a new page has been added to our site! It is a page that lists our prayer needs, as well as our praises, and will be updated and added to as needed.

The Bike4Mali ride is in the news!

Prayer wristbands have been made and are in!

Funds will be used to sponsor Pastor Bruce as he rides across the United States this summer 2008 for the purpose of raising funds for the needs related to the expansion of the Women & Children's hospital in Koutiala, Mali, Africa.

The wristbands are red, yellow, and green - the colors of the Mali flag and have "bike4mali.org" stamped into them. They are to remind the wearer to pray every day for:
- The Women & Children's hospital in Koutiala, Mali
-The people of Mali.
-C&MA workers in Mali.
-Pastor Bruce as he prepares to ride June-August!

The wristbands are available online! One for $4.00, or 10 for $25. Send a money-order or check (made out to North Country Alliance Church, with "Prayer Wristbands" in the memo) to North Country Alliance Church at

7 Northern Ave.
Plattsburgh, NY 12903

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Financial Progress So far, we are near to $5 per mile. This totals to an overall donation of $20,000 for the Koutiala Hospital. A big thank you to those who have already donated or made a pledge to support the ride. We ask that others would consider a donation or a pledge as well. Status as of July 27, 2008 Projected Route Drag your mouse over the map below to see how far we've come! (If the map doesn't load in a moment or two, try refreshing the page.) So far, Bruce has ridden over 4100 miles across California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine -- and has therefore completed his route across the United States!! Location and distance as of August 6, 2008 Starting Point: Clam Beach, California (near Trinidad, California) Head to Redding, California via Rt. 299 Then to Reno, Nevada & across Nevada & Utah A scheduled break with family - we will drive to St. George, to see the Grand Canyon Resume the ride, heading to Colorado Stop at the national office of the C&MA/Orchard Foundation in Colorado Springs Then east across Nebraska to Omaha And on across Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana Scheduled rest and visit with family in Indianapolis Northeast through Ohio to the shores of Lake Erie Then on to Pennsylvania & New York where I will ride parts of the Erie Canal bike trail Northeast across the Adirondak Park, then to Plattsburgh Across Vermont and New Hampshire Southeasterly across Maine Concluding at Old Orchard Beach - a location significant in the early days of the C&MA This ride is estimated at taking about 10 weeks, and it began June 2, 2008. The trip is approximately 3900 miles and the hope is to average 60-70 miles a day. We hope to have made it to Old Orchard Beach, ME by the first or second week of August! After the Ride itself is finished, Bruce plans to go to Africa. This will be in October, and he will be riding from Bamako to Koutiala to personally delilver to them the funds raised from this endeavor. Clikc here for the PDF file of the full Route from Clam Beach, CA to Old Orchard Beach, ME Please Note: The PDF was written before the ride began, and while we've always been pretty close to what is stated on there as far as dates and locations, have not always been right on the mark with it. We are now, however, back on schedule and should be on or ahead of it for the remainder of the trip. --Christina Bruce hopes that this extreme fundraiser will send over a million dollars to the Women and Children's Hospital in Koutiala, Mali, West Africa. We will soon be able to post how much of each kind of donation has come in, and how much that means for the hospital's additions. To see what a pledge of a penny, nickel or dime add up to, please click the "Support the Ride" link on the left. Updates Click here for the news article published on Friday, April 25, 2008! Letter Excerpt from a worker in Mali! Friends and family, It has been a while since we have written. We have been swept up in the life of the hospital and I realize that I need to take more time to communicate. God continues to be so very good to us. Plenty has happened since our last letter - perhaps the greatest thing is that Gos has sent us a hospital administrator!! Craig and Marilyn Hanscombe joined the team here in January. Craig has hit the ground running and is pushing the hospital forward in a dozen directions simultaneously. I marvel at God's goodness. Six months ago I had never heard of Craig and Marilyn. We were quite discouraged, seeing so many needs and feeling so inadequate. It seemed all we could do to keep our heads above water at the hospital, let alone take concrete steps to move forward. To think that we would find someone with financial and administrative experience, who also understood Africa and spoke French and would be willing to move to Koutiala and dive in, seemed like a naive dream. Now, here we are six months later and the entire picture looks different. I am continuously amazed at God's timing and kindness. We have seen one miraculous porvision after another. 155 babies were delivered at the hospital in the month of March. There are lots of preemies and 4 sets of twins in the house right now. It is amazing to see little two pound babies make it when you consider how little technology we have to offer. We have had several visiting medical teams in the past 6 months. Each team leaves us stronger than we were before, as we are slowly expanding our competence and confidence. It is great fun to see the progress. 2008 looks to finish strong as we are nearing completion of a large storage building and preparing to start construction of the new maternity complex. Thank you for your faithful prayer and support of us. It is your kindness in giving that allows us to stay out here. We are humbled by your friendships. -Dan, Marcy, Emma, Ellie and Maggie Update from a worker in Mali! A worker recently told us some more-specific needs in Mali. Here are some of the types of things your donations will go towards to meet their needs. Furnishings and supplies (medicine and equipment, as well as storage for housing it) needed for the opening of a pediatric center later this year. X-ray machines, test equitment for laboratory work, and AV equipment for showing health videos in waiting areas of the hospital. Hospital Security Solar power for daylight-free electricity for storage & new maternity departments. Improvement of the hospital computer network and office equipment. Language study for a new nurse being sent out this summer to work at Koutiala. Construction of higher walls, and of housing for workers and national staff, to be built near to or on the hospital grounds. As you may have noticed, a new page has been added to our site! It is a page that lists our prayer needs, as well as our praises, and will be updated and added to as needed. The Bike4Mali ride is in the news! Prayer wristbands have been made and are in! Funds will be used to sponsor Pastor Bruce as he rides across the United States this summer 2008 for the purpose of raising funds for the needs related to the expansion of the Women & Children's hospital in Koutiala, Mali, Africa. The wristbands are red, yellow, and green - the colors of the Mali flag and have "bike4mali.org" stamped into them. They are to remind the wearer to pray every day for: - The Women & Children's hospital in Koutiala, Mali -The people of Mali. -C&MA workers in Mali. -Pastor Bruce as he prepares to ride June-August! The wristbands are available online! One for $4.00, or 10 for $25. Send a money-order or check (made out to North Country Alliance Church, with "Prayer Wristbands" in the memo) to North Country Alliance Church at 7 Northern Ave. Plattsburgh, NY 12903 Top of Page