A Mile for a Child's Dream
SOS Children's Village Iloilo holds 2nd Fun Ride
Funride
Dawn breaks over Plaza Libertad, and as the city awakens, the staff of SOS Children's Village Iloilo are ready to kick off their latest fundraising event. The 2nd Fun Ride, in partnership with IBEX was held on November 18th 2007. The event brought cycling enthusiasts from all over Iloilo City together to raise funds for the children of SOS Iloilo. SOS Children's Villages are active in 132 countries worldwide. The umbrella non-governmental organization is the Austrian based SOS-Kinderdorf, which unites all of the autonomous national associations. For forty years, SOS has been uplifting the lives of Filipino children through family based care. The reality of extreme poverty worldwide has left a number of children orphaned, abandoned and neglected, thus, SOS plays an integral role in providing a safe home, loving family and most of all dignity to children. For one morning, Ilonggos shared the roadway with IBEX cyclists and the spirited children of SOS. The pounding drumbeat trailing behind a line of approximately one hundred- plus cyclists was the warning sign for others to halt and make way. Those who participated in the Fun Ride included avid cyclists and members of IBEX. However, as the event took to the streets, other cyclists couldn't resist the energy and joined in. Fun Rides are a normal event for IBEX members, as a way of sharing their passion for cycling. However, when coupled with advocacy and fundraising, the power of cycling and the possibilities for an organization such as SOS Iloilo become more significant.
Bikers
The concept of a Fun Ride was first organized by SOS staff members last year in Zarraga. However, this year, it is the first time that the organization is trying the event in an urban area. The main purpose of the Fun Ride was to publicize SOS Iloilo and evoke curiosity about the work of the NGO in the City of Iloilo. The Fun Ride route toured the city's Plazas, starting at Plaza Libertad, traveling through Villa, Molo Plaza and ending in Jaro Plaza, riders who took to the streets garnered much attention from onlookers and residents alike. At Jaro Plaza, the end point of the Fun Ride, the participants received refreshments as well as a chance to win some great prizes courtesy of the event's sponsors through a raffle. The sponsors included: Standard Insurance, BIGBY'S, MANG INASAL, DECO'S, SHANA LACS, Rural Bank of Zarraga, Agua Miga Purified Drinking Water, EMCOR, JAB GLASS, DATSAN Multi Trades and Mrs. Senan Garingalao.
SOS Funride
Spirits were high in Jaro Plaza as the Fun Ride came to a close, but the momentum was not lost. To wrap up a morning of cycling, an SOS child shared some inspirational words of gratitude. SOS Children's Village Iloilo Director, Mr. Renie Masongsong leads the awarding ceremony for the biggest number of participating biker's team, other giveaways to all who are present. All of funds raised from the morning's event have gone to the children who live in the SOS Children's Village Iloilo. They will be used towards furthering their education and bettering their life in general.
There are a number of NGOs in Iloilo and this not only reflects the social needs of the city and region, but the dedication and heart of the people who work for them. The efforts of SOS Children's Village Iloilo are positive steps towards improving the social fabric of the city and region through providing an enabling environment for healing and growth through a loving family where dreams that were once considered lost can now be achieved.
The laughter of a child who has been given a second chance at growing up with a loving family reverberates more deeply than any other laughter in the world. The Fun Ride was just one of many events that SOS Children's Village Iloilo will be holding in the city. For more information on their work or upcoming events, they can be contacted by phone (033) 525 45 63 or email at iloilo@sosphilippines.org & rmasongsong@sosphilippines.org.