I started volunteering for All Hands in the beginning of August, thinking that I would stay for 3 weeks and head off traveling again.  Over two months later, I'm still here volunteering my time and energy towards rebuilding the homes and livelihoods of the people here in Tacloban.  The local people I've met and been able to help have left a deep impact on me, and I'm not done yet.

In the past two months I've helped build transitional shelters, cleared and safely brought down destroyed buildings, dug all day and mixed cement in the heat and even learned some skilled jobs like plastering and laying cement blocks.  I've also learned Filipino dances from the labourers, listened to people's stories and hugged them as they cried, played with the children and given them rides in my wheel barrow and worked alongside the local beneficiaries as they rebuilt their own homes.  These people are incredibly grateful for our help and always wear a smile on their faces.  Yet there are so many more people to help and more homes to build.  That's why this next fundraising project is so important to me.

On the 10th of November, 6 cyclists (including myself) will trace the path of Super-typhoon Haiyan  – one of the strongest storms to ever make landfall.  The path stretches for 300km across the provinces of Samar and Leyte, where the typhoon caused catastrophic levels of destruction and heartache.  We begin the cycle 2 days after the one-year anniversary of Haiyan, cycling for 6 days and stopping in various communities along the way to talk with the people and hear their stories.  We will be filming the entire ride to raise awareness of the progress that has been made and just how much more help is needed.  We will also share the stories of resolve and recovery of the communities and people affected.

The funds raised by this bike ride will go towards Project Leyte's 1.1 Million Campaign, dedicated to raise 1.1 million Philippine Pesos by the one year anniversary of Super-Typhoon Haiyan on November 8th.  This symbolic amount, one peso for every home that was affected, will allow 9 Progressive Core Homes to be built in the local Barangays (neighbourhoods) and will provide families with much needed security and shelter.  That's $27,600 CAD for 9 new permanent and typhoon-resistant homes.  Not a lot when you think about the price of a home in Canada.

So please help me as I take on this arduous and slightly crazy task of riding over rough and potholed roads in the Filipino heat and humidity at the peak of typhoon season.  Every dollar donated will help house a family without a proper home.  Thank you so much!!

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