Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh by Bicycle

THE BACKGROUND
In 1975, following the end of the Vietnam War, thousands of Vietnamese began to flee the country in boats, seeking refuge from rising fear and uncertainty and danger in their homeland. Over the next two decades, 800,000 refugees landed on foreign shores, while a quarter of that figure, at least, never made it back to any shore.

This unfolding human rights tragedy became a passion for Canadian lawyer Ron Poulton, who worked in the Vietnamese refugee camps in Hong Kong for UNHCR in the late 1980s, seeking international protection and resettlement for refugee claimants. Ron developed close relationships with many of the Vietnamese he worked with, and for, and a life-long admiration for the people of Vietnam – a people who were “warm, generous and confident in themselves and in their future. Truly amazing, considering what they had just recently been through”.

THE MISSION
Thirty-five years on, Ron is returning to Vietnam for the first time with his friend and former UNHCR colleague Hai, to cycle from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, covering about 1,700km over a period of 20 days. Joining them is Remy Kawkabani, Ron’s oldest friend and football teammate from High School (Vanier ’78) and University (McGill ’81). The final member of the team is Remy’s son Samuel, who will be capturing the expedition on video and driving the support van.

The rules are strict. The whole mission will be subject to a level of scrutiny.

THE CAUSE
Our aim with this outreach is to raise awareness and funds for the underprivileged Vietnamese mountain people, and the International Red Cross relief effort in Vietnam following the effects of the devastating damage recently caused by Super-typhoon Fung-Wong.

Both causes will benefit from the funds we raise, the former via the charity Ten Tieng Anh, which translates as The Fund for Poor Students in the Highlands, the latter via the British Red Cross.

Both charities have been validated by our friends at Givewheel. We hope you feel inspired by our mission to support these urgent causes, as well as supporting us in our mission to cover this historic route by bicycle in just under three weeks.

THE MOTIVATION
Despite living almost unfathomably different adult lives, Ron and Remy both continue to share the same values that they held all those years ago. After family, friendship and gratitude for our blessings, whether competing on the sports pitch, in the Boardroom or before The Supreme Court of Canada, try to be one of the people that makes a positive difference.

“We (Ron, Hai, Remy and Sam) hope that you will come along with us by following our adventures on this blog. And we thank you in advance for your support, both moral and financial. A single dollar, euro or pound travels a very long distance in the highlands of Vietnam. Just $10 buys a nutritious meal for 5 students. We have been fortunate to secure a sponsor who will match any dollar raised on a one-for-one basis until the target is reached. Any donation given will make a difference for both causes. We promise that.”