Ride for World Health

Before I get too far along in my blogging sessions, I guess I should explain why I am riding my bike across the country. I first heard about Ride for World Health (R4WH) during my second year of medical school when the riders came through Columbus on their way to Washington DC. A few of the riders in that group from Ohio State med school started R4WH as a national non profit organization that used a cross country bicycle ride to raise money for an international health organization. Along with that fundraising, the riders gave lectures about both domestic and international health care issues to groups in the towns they rode through. These lectures were designed to both educate and spark conversation about health care disparities. The third mission of the ride was to promote advocacy.

The ride is now in it's third year. Although the starting city has been changed from San Francisco to San Diego, the mission and goals of the ride are still the same. This year, we are proud to be giving our fundraising efforts to Doctors Without Borders. This international organization made up of doctors, nurses, water sanitation experts, and organizers goes to areas of conflict, natural and man made disasters, and political unrest and delivers health care to those in need. The organization is consistently rated among the best in terms of the use of generated funds with over 85% going to the cause.

Our lectures have also remained a core part of the ride. This year we are speaking about infectious disease, health care access, poverty and health care, and women's and children's health care. We also talk to younger people about bike safety and how to become a doctor or health care professional. There is plenty of more information on our new website www.rideforworldhealth.org as well as rider blogs and pictures from the ride. R4WH is a group that I feel very lucky to be a part of, and I look forward to our journey during the next 2 months.