The PWRDF Wild Ride returns!

Do you have a passion for cycling? Baking? Hiking? Reading? No matter what your favourite activity, you’re invited to join the second annual PWRDF Wild Ride and put your stamp on it with your creative participation!

Last year, 12 teams made up of 55 participants came together to put their stamp on it and participate in our inaugural campaign. The 2023 PWRDF Wild Ride will begin on World Refugee Day, June 20, and run until Thanksgiving Day, October 9. This annual campaign is once again supporting our partners who work with refugees or Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in countries such as Tanzania, South Sudan, Jordan, Ukraine and more.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in 2023 approximately 177 million people – more than three times the population of Canada – will be forced to leave their homes or countries. It is the highest number in history. The journey to safety can often be very perilous, all-too-frequently meeting a tragic end. According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration, migrant deaths in the Central Mediterranean have hit a six-year high in 2023.

“The majority of refugees are in protracted situations, living in exile for more than five years, and often decades,” says Carolyn Cummins, PWRDF’s Director of Fundraising and Supporter Relations. “The number of refugees in need of resettlement to another country has increased significantly, but unfortunately only a fraction will ever be offered an opportunity to relocate to countries such as Canada. The rest remain displaced, mostly in low to middle income countries which do not have the resources to care for their needs. PWRDF partners are caring for displaced individuals and families with support for income generation, improved food security, medical care, counselling, and more.”

This year’s Wild Ride will be dedicated to the memory of the Rev. Canon Greg Smith. Greg was a beloved PWRDF volunteer: a dedicated diocesan representative in the Diocese of Huron for 20 years, a Mapping the Ground We Stand On facilitator, and a team captain since 2014 in both the Ride for Refuge and the Wild Ride. Greg passed away suddenly on May 6, 2023.

PWRDF is pleased to be working with Canada Helps as our fundraising partner again this year. Throughout the summer, participants can join a team or start a team to fundraise for PWRDF. Participants will register for the Wild Ride through a Canada Helps platform that is embedded on our website.

Building on the success of our first-ever Wild Ride last year, our goal for 2023 is to increase our number of teams to 15, and recruit 75 participants. Our fundraising goal is $50,000. Participants who choose to cycle or walk can set their own courses.

Looking for some creative inspiration? Attend our launch webinar on June 22 at 1 p.m. ET to learn how other people from across Canada plan to participate in the Wild Ride this year. You may be inspired to “put your stamp on it!”