Kev’s big ride

Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia

A Cooranbong resident’s 1000-kilometre bicycle ride from Brisbane to Cooranbong has raised $20,000 for an Avondale College of Higher Education student mission club.

Kevin Judge, the director of student services, arrived on Avondale’s Lake Macquarie campus, April 12, less than five days after leaving Everton Hills in Queensland. He experienced heat—the temperature almost reached 30 degrees at Surfers Paradise—and a headwind from Grafton to Nabiac but no punctures. “It went like a dream,” says Kevin reflecting on his seven hours in the saddle each day. “Physically, it’s tough—[Kevin admits feeling fatigued]—but that’s to be expected.”
 

“It went like a dream.” Kevin Judge on his 1000-kilometre bicycle ride from Brisbane to Cooranbong. [Photo courtesy: Lagani Gairo]

The money will help One Mission Africa raise $30,000 for health education in Zambia and Botswana. The student club will distribute HIV/AIDS test kits, establish mobile medical clinics and present health promotion lessons and evangelistic programs in Lusaka and Gaborone, the capitals of both countries, during semester recess.

“Many of my relatives and friends have died [from HIV/AIDS],” says One Mission Africa co-leader Harvey Henderson, who is from Malawi. “Seeing these young adults from Avondale who want to make a difference gives me hope less lives will be lost.”

However, the money One Mission Africa needs will only cover the cost of the health education and the evangelism, not the cost of accommodation, food and travel.

Enter Kevin. Harvey calls Kevin’s ride “inspirational.” “I’m so grateful,” says the Avondale PhD student. “I don’t have enough words to say thank you.”