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Cycling For A Cause

Great Lakes solo bike trek helps
raise funds for global water issues.

I

Stacy Gittleman

Contributing Writer

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he thousands
of miles Rudy
Van Prooyen has
logged throughout North
America can be tough.
He bikes through fog,
wind and rain, and many
of those miles are uphill.
However, they are no
match for the treacherous
miles trekked daily for
nearly 20 percent of the
world's population just to Rudy Van Prooyen, 65, makes long-distance bike
get a drink of water.
treks to raise money for the nonprofit Blue Planet.
The nonprofit organi-
zation Blue Planet affili-
a car in the Motor City, Van Prooyen,
ates with more than 50 different water
at age 52, added marathon running
organizations globally, offering them
to his fitness regimen. In 2007, Blue
grants for sustainable water purifica-
Planet selected him, along with 19
tion and supply projects for the devel-
other elite runners, for a global trek
oping world.
across the 42nd Parallel North to raise
Each summer, Van Prooyen, 65, a
several million dollars and awareness
retired marine biologist formerly of
for global water projects.
West Bloomfield and now living in
Accompanied by other Blue Planet
Arizona, raises money and awareness
volunteers and a media crew, five
for Blue Planet by riding his bicycle.
groups of four runners were respon-
This summer, he logged his 36,000th
sible for running across the globe in
mile in a 7,000-mile, 100-day Great
95 days, each team running at least 40
Lakes solo bike trek for the cause of
miles per day. Everywhere they went,
providing safe drinking water for a
from North America to Siberia, they
village in Guatemala. At more than
encountered people having challenges
$2,000 raised this summer, he hopes
accessing clean, safe water.
to raise $5,000 by the end of 2014
In the years after the run, Van
through his website www.fundly.com/
Prooyen continues to volunteer as a
rudyvanprooyen.
Blue Planet global messenger, raising
According to Blue Planet, 1 billion
awareness for Blue Planet's mission.
people do not have nearby access
Though he received logistical support
— like food and lodging — during the
to clean water. Nearly 6,000 people
around the world die each day from
global run, his annual bike rides are
waterborne diseases. Van Prooyen is
self-funded. He relies on the hospital-
ity of those in the cycling community
confronting this crisis not only as a
scientist but also as a Reform Jew who
— and a sturdy camping tent he packs
on his bike — for shelter.
believes strongly in the Jewish values
Spending his summer riding along
of social justice and repairing the
world.
one of the Earth's greatest sources of
As a Reform Jew, I feel a tremen-
fresh water made him realize how
dous obligation to the Jewish value of
much of this precious resource North
tikkun olam," said Van Prooyen, who,
Americans have, yet squander.
over the years, has had involvement
"We have blinders on:' Van Prooyen
from local schools, including Frankel
said. "We need to learn to conserve
Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield
water. Just because we have a lot of it
and Hillel Day School in Farmington
doesn't mean we have the luxury of
Hills. "It encompasses all the other
wasting it:'
commandments we are obligated to do
To follow his progress in raising money for
as Jews to help the rest of mankind"
Blue Planet, or to donate, go to www.
A native of the Netherlands, where
tourdewaterblogspot.com.
riding a bicycle is as natural as driving

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248-851-1260

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November 13 • 2014

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