RIDE for refuge campaign supports Streets Alive mission

By Lethbridge Herald on October 9, 2024.

Herald photo by Alexandra Noad The largest team in Lethbridge stands at the finish line after completing Ride For Refuge at Henderson Lake on Saturday.

Alexandra Noad
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

More than 2,000 cyclists, runners and walkers across the country raised money for charity organizations country-wide in the annual RIDE for refuge campaign on the weekend.

Streets Alive was Lethbridge’s organization with proceeds going to their Genesis Women’s recovery and Exodus Men’s recovery programs. They have raised over $4,000 in the campaign so far.

These abstinence- and faith-based recovery programs see about 100 people annually and have an 85 per cent success rate.

Jennifer Lepko, chief development officer for Streets Alive Mission, says these programs not only help with the recovery side, but also help them deal with the root of the issue and help them integrate back into society.

“We work with not only dealing with the addictions they’re facing, but we talk about where the addiction may have come from, some of the traumas they may have experienced some of the life choices. 

“We look at how do we get them employed again, how do we work them back into their families and their communities and help them with budgeting and those real life skills that sometimes when you’re living in survival with addiction then you lost those skills,” said Lepko.

Daniel van-Ewijk was this year’s top fundraiser, raising $650.

 While he has been a volunteer for a number of years, he says he felt this was another way he could give back to the organization.

“I volunteer for Streets Alive, I have been for about six years, so Streets Alive is my passion. I felt that this is one way I could give back to them,” said van-Ewijk.

Being a non-profit, Lepko says people don’t realize how important their time and efforts are for the organization.

“Our community supports the work we do and we are helping-our community is helping take people from living on the streets to going through recovery and actually getting their lives back. 

So, the impact is so tremendous. People don’t realize that even the gift of time, the gift of used clothing or the gift of finances and being involved in events and stuff like this, it really does make a huge impact on other people’s lives,” said Lepko.

The event brought more than 70 people together whether they participated in the event, or they helped volunteer to help it run smoothly.

van-Ewijk says the event was a lot of fun to participate in and encourages everyone to take part in it next year.

Donations for Ride for Refuge are being accepted until the end of October at rideforrefuge.org.

 Donations of material items can be dropped off at Streets Alive at 323 4 St. S.