The Purpose

As the new millennium dawned, world leaders convened at the United Nations Headquarters in 2000 to address the growing problem of poverty in the world.  From this historic meeting, a set of eight goals known as the Millennium Development Goals were created to eradicate extreme poverty.  They encapsulate all major dimensions of human destitution—from hunger to health care, gender inequality to education and environmental sustainability—calling on all nations of the world to contribute to their attainment by 2015.

Unfortunately, most Americans today have never heard of the Millennium Development Goals, yet American public support remains crucial for their timely achievement.

A Solution on Wheels?

Recognizing the pressing need to galvanize American public support for the Millennium Development Goals, three cyclists joined to form the Millennium Development Ride in 2009. The Millennium Development Ride is a seven month 12,000 mile international bicycling tour through much of the developing world that aims to enhance the public knowledge of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals while also exposing both ongoing progress and problems in many of the world’s poorest nations.

The Millennium Development Ride Team will embark in fall of 2011 from Southeast Asia and venture across much of Asia and Africa (see route map).  Be sure to follow their photo journal and blog, as they narrate the stories of individuals and communities they encounter along their route through 18 different nations.

The Millennium Development Ride is proud to support eight established international non-profit organizations, whose decades of experience across the globe make them some of the most important non-governmental drivers of development today.  All donations to the Millennium Development Ride will go directly and fully to support their work. Learn more about the beneficiaries.