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DICK HAS COMPLETED HIS EPIC RIDE
FOR AFGHANISTAN
See his letter of thanks below
To revisit Dick's ride -
click here
To revisit Dick's
preparation for the ride -
click here
Dear Friends,
The road map looks a little tattered now, most of the folds are torn, the
edges are dog eared and bent up. The panniers have been cleaned and put
into storage until the next ride. The anti-chafe stuff has been placed in
the medicine cabinet and the bike will shortly to be converted for city
commuter use ………………….. The voyage is over, finished, done. The adventure
has ended and only memories remain.
Very happy memories of wide open spaces, birds on the wing, new friends,
the sound of tyres on bitumen, dry rivers and creeks, beautiful trees,
fantastic people who keep the country open and who keep many isolated
communities supplied. Memories also of sharing the days experiences with
Rosemary, Julia and Sandra who so generously supported the ride, riding
with friends such as Otto, Carl and Gilles.
And then there were YOU who so generously supported this project through
your donations as well as contacting me with encouraging messages. Thank
you, thank you ! I am still overwhelmed by your generosity and I am deeply
touched by the loving way some of you have dedicated your donation to the
memory of parents, relatives and friends. Some of you did not know me and
yet you trusted me to be a good steward of your donation. Most of you who
do know me will know that I will do my utmost to extract maximum value
from the monies raised for the benefit of the people of Afghanistan.
At this time I have no final figure, in fact the donation facility is
still live, but as soon as the accounting is finalised and receipt of
donations has closed I will advise you of the final tally. Be assured,
wells will be built!
Please check this web site: www.ridingforafghanistan.net from time to
time. I will post progress reports as well as any interesting news if and
when it occurs.
I can not close this message without again expressing my sincere gratitude
for your generous support. Thank you!
Very best wishes.
Dick Marquardt
DICK'S INTRODUCTORY LETTER
(before the ride)
Hi,
I am Dick
Marquardt. I am about to ride my bike from Adelaide to Darwin.
Why? You may well
ask. My doctor felt it necessary to advise me that perfectly reliable air,
bus and train services are readily available. My cardiologist believes
“It’s a good idea”, some friends have suggested that my mental state may
be suspect and yes even I have doubts, but this is something I MUST do.
The prime object
is ...... well yes, a personal challenge, but importantly, much more
importantly, this is a fund raising effort.
You see, I was
born in 1941 in Germany. I know, albeit in distant memories, the horrors
of war. I know hunger, dislocation, death and destruction and I have been
fortunate, I have overcome the trauma and the disadvantage.
And now as I
reflect on my past and assess my present I know I can, with YOUR help, do
something good for some of the war affected people in Afghanistan.
Dr Nouria Salehi,
CEO of the Australia Afghan Development Organisation (AADO) has advised me
that wells would be of significant benefit to various communities and
their long suffering people in Afghanistan.
Will you please
help me to raise enough funds to sink at least two wells in Afghanistan?
Thank you!
Dick Marquardt
P.S. Almost
needless to say, but the bike ride is entirely self-funded, this web site
is self-funded, any administration expenses will be self-funded. 100% of
your contributions will be used for the well sinking project.
Dr Nouria Salehi
Founder and CEO of the
Australian Afghanistan Development Organisation
As Founder and
Chief Executive of the Afghan Australian Development Organisation (AADO) I
am very excited by Dick’s fund raising project Riding for Afghanistan.
I will be in
Afghanistan when Dick begins his ride, and I find it amazing that he will
be riding his bike through desert country, following in the tracks of so
many Afghan people before him. The Afghans might have ridden camels,
however the journey was over the same sort of country, giving a strong
historical link with Dick’s ride. I will take Dick’s story with me.
Deep Well Water
Pumps are so important to every village in Afghanistan. Because clean
water is available, the general health of the villagers improves, crops
can be watered and nurtured, and the whole village prospers. May God go
with Dick on his ride.
Dr Nouria Salehi
OAM
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Sincere Thanks