UK couple are on kick-scooter journey from Canada to the Mexican border to raise money for a school in Tanzania
Bex Band and Gil Dori, both 30, set out on a kick-scooter expedition they named “Kicking the States” on May 17 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The two will ride their kick-scooters for 1,500 miles over three months, making their way to Tijuana, Mexico. Along the journey they are fundraising for a charity called Africa’s Children in Education (ACE).
When Healdsburg resident Cheryl Caletti heard about the expedition through a Portland news outlet, she was intrigued. She found out the couple would be headed through Healdsburg and were looking for accommodations for two nights.
Caletti said she and her husband, Steve Caletti, have a history of hosting guests traveling through and reached out to invite Band and Dori to stay at their home.
“I really liked their focus, raising money for the school in Africa, and that’s what I found interesting,” she said. “We wanted to get to know them a little bit.”
During the visit, the Calettis learned about the young couple’s travels, their stay in Tanzania and why they decided to ride non-motorized scooters down the western coast of the U.S.
Raising money to donate became a goal after Band and Dori visited a school in a small village in Tanzania at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro last year. They said the children and their families live a very simple life, with no running water or electricity in their mud huts.
Band, a former teacher, said since the visit they have wanted to do something to give back. “We met many children living in extreme poverty, and we believe that education is key to them being able to change their circumstances,” she said. “Our hope is to raise $10,000, which will go toward building a school, which will help hundreds of children for years to come.”
Dori said going to school not only means that the children get a hot meal and play time every day, but also have the opportunity to alter their future.
Aside from a frightening visit from a bear, Band and Dori said the encounters they’ve had along the way have been positive. Band celebrated her 30th birthday during their stay in Healdsburg. Caletti made a birthday cake for the special occasion.
The couple said Healdsburg has been the best town so far in their travels. “We’ve been surprised by people’s generosity,” Dori said. “So much love and trust is great. It really all makes it worthwhile.”
During the journey Dori and Band are completely self-contained, carrying all their own gear in modified panniers that they adapted especially for their Yedoo kick-scooters.
The couple is just over halfway through their journey south and have more than 15 talks and events booked to help raise funds on the second leg of the trip. So far they have been able to raise $3,700. Many donations came from sharing their story with strangers they met on the road.
Dori said they are averaging 30 miles a day and enjoying the quiet routes through small towns. They admitted they get physically and mentally exhausted, but finding rest at campsites and with those willing to accommodate them has given them hope.
Band said her whole body hurts, but that she gets a boost each time they get a donation. “We can picture it, another brick being paid for,” she said.
Cheryl Caletti said she and her husband would love to visit Band and Dori in Tanzania one day to see how the school expansion project has grown.
For more information or to make a donation, visit https://www.kickingthestates.com/. Track Band and Dori on their journey on the blog https://www.theordinaryadventurer.com/.
