When Andre and Christine DaCosta conceived the idea of riding the Empire State Trail, which runs from Niagara Falls to New York City, what began as a fun trip quickly evolved into a fundraising effort for Vaughansfield Infant and Primary School in t James, Jamaica.<\/p>\n
The couple set a target of raising US$5,000 for the school, which Christine attended while growing up in Jamaica.<\/p>\n
Christine told The Gleaner yesterday that she and her husband were adventurous people who decided to take on the 575-mile cycling journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke with several people to bounce the idea of turning the trip into a fundraiser for the school and was encouraged to do so,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The couple began the trip on October 19 and had already completed more than 400 miles. They expected to finish the journey on Friday.<\/p>\n
Dubbed ‘Pedaling with a Purpose’, the initiative is their way of giving back to the community, Christine said.<\/p>\n
To help reach their US$5,000 target, they established a GoFundMe page detailing their 575-mile, 11-day cycling journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this journey is about more than just the miles we ride,\u201d the page states.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also about something very close to my heart \u2013giving back to the community in Jamaica that helped shape who I am,\u201d Christine said on the page.<\/p>\n
She has invited alumni of Vaughansfield Infant and Primary, friends, family and others who support the cause to join her and her husband in making a difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can think of no greater motivation to complete this challenging journey than knowing that your encouragement and generosity will help give back to a school that has educated, inspire and shaped so many lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Christine told The Gleaner that a major fire in 1943 destroyed the school\u2019s original building, killing seven children, all boys, including her uncle. The fire was caused when lightning struck the wooden mission house of a church in Flamstead, St James which was being used to house the lower school. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis makes me want to do something in giving back to the school,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She added that her time at Vaughansfield was a positive period in her life and that she considered giving back to the institution a worthwhile endeavour.<\/p>\n
Christine said she hoped the couple would surpass their fundraising target.<\/p>\n
The couple, who live in the Bronx, New York, are encouraging the public to support ‘Pedaling with a Purpose’, which up to yesterday had raised US$1,020.<\/p>\n
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