Inmates Knit Teddy Bears For Children In Perú

Inmates at the Newfoundland & Labrador Correctional Center for Women in Clarenville, Canada have been making teddy bears for children in Perú as part of Teddies for Tragedies.

The United Kingdom based program provides a knitting pattern on its website, then inmates do the rest.

Once children receive the toys, pictures of them holding their bears are sent to the correctional institute.

An inmate named Jill says seeing the pictures gives her a sense of purpose.

"There's people across the world that are liking and wanting you to be doing what you're doing right now, versus when you were doing things on the outside before you got in trouble. You felt useless to society, and now you don't".

"You know, to see them hugging on to their little bears, and knowing that's probably the only toy they've had for a while, it really puts life in perspective," said Jill.

Officials at the jail said the program is a positive step in the rehabilitation of inmates.

Correctional officer Judy Bursey–Currie said being involved in Teddies for Tragedies helps inmates stay out of trouble once they're released.

"They've grown up in pretty sad environments. So to instill in them, something positive, and allow them to be part of something positive is a big part of the rehabilitation," said Bursey–Currie.

According to its website, Teddies for Tragedies has provided hundreds of thousands of toys to children around the world since 1985.

Lesotho Visit

In March, the director of Torch of Faith, Krin Van Tatenhove visited Lesotho to establish a formal partnership with Ministry of Hope Lesotho (MoHL), which cares for children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. Many of them are also HIV positive, victims of the sub-Saharan AIDS crisis.

If you don't know about Lesotho, the "mountain kingdom" of Africa, read this article at Wikipedia. Then take a moment to see Krin's photos of his Lesotho odyssey on our Facebook page.

Neale Bayly Rides Perú

Resource:  Motorcycle USA
By Bryan Harley

Our resident road warrior has earned his stripes covering the rally circuit, from riding the Black Hills of Sturgis to cruising Main Street in Daytona Beach. Whether it’s chopped, bobbed, or bored, metric to ‘Merican, he rides ‘em all.

Neal Bayly (center) Is A Man On A Mission

Neale Bayly Rides Peru to Air June 9 Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Neale Bayly is a man of many hats. Or maybe we should say helmets, because he’s a madman behind the bars of a motorcycle. But he’s also a writer, rider, photographer, moto-journalist, wise-crackin’ Brit, father, and most recently, a philanthropist. We’ve been fortunate to have him pen articles for Motorcycle USA in the past before he began heading up SPEEDTV.com’s motorcycle section where many came to know him from his TV gig called “Trippin’ on Two Wheels.”

Neale’s got a new show coming out soon and this time the light-hearted tone of “Trippin’ on Two Wheels” is replaced by an adventure with deeper meaning. You see, years ago Bayly was on an adventure-touring ride to Peru where he visited the Hogar Belen orphanage. The kids in the orphanage left an irrepressible impression upon Neale, and not long after he formed Wellspring International Outreach, a “non-profit dedicated to helping orphans around the world.”

And it is bringing awareness to the plight of these children that lies at the core of his latest adventure. “Neale Bayly Rides” takes “three average riders on the journey of a lifetime.” Starting in Lima, they embark on an eight-day journey across Peru riding BMW motorcycles on their way to Moquegua. Watching the trailer, the riders were ill-prepared for the demands of desert riding. But it’s not only about the ride. They’re on a mission - to visit the orphanage for abandoned children in Peru’s southeastern desert. We guarantee it’s going to be one of those types of shows that not only touch those involved, but reaches out to those who watch.

Best part is, the three-part series is getting set to air Sunday, June 9 at 9 p.m. (EST) on SPEEDTV with the other episodes running the following Sundays, June 16 and June 23. We’re honored to call Neale our friend so we encourage you to tune in for a motorcycle show unlike any other. For more info, check out the "Neale Bayly Rides" website. Ride on, ride strong Neale.

Asheville Physician Bikes To Peruvian Orphanage

Dr. Laura Ellis

Resource: Asheville Citizen Times

By Susan Reinhardt

Those who meet Asheville surgeon Dr. Laura Ellis know she has glamour and grace.

But she hides a part of herself from most patients, afraid if they knew her “other” side, they might hesitate before undergoing a procedure.

It’s that other side — her passion for riding motorcycles — that has landed Ellis, a renowned vein specialist and anti-aging expert, in the spotlight.

For nine days and more than 1,700 often-grueling miles, Ellis rode a BMW motorcycle throughout the countryside in Peru.

Her destination? A little-known orphanage that desperately needs attention and awareness to help some 200 kids with no families.

The results of the “life-changing” trip have been transformed into a reality-based TV program and will premiere on the Speed TV series “Neale Bayly Rides: Peru,” airing at 9 p.m. June 9.

To celebrate this accomplishment that tested her grit as she weathered some horrendous conditions on the way to her destination, she is hosting a special event with Bayly and the show’s cast 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville. Trailers and footage from the show will be shown.

Ellis embarked upon the journey Feb. 11-20 and talked with me about this experience and the three hourlong episodes that will soon air.

“I like to race motorcycles,” she said, taking a short break between patients at her Biltmore Park office where she is medical director of medAge, a supervised and comprehensive approach to help patients achieve health through age-management science.

“I’ve kept that a secret from my patients and friends,” she said. “Some people might think it is dangerous or irresponsible.”

One day while riding on a track, the manager introduced her to Bayly, a famous writer, rider, producer and philanthropist.

“Neale wanted to do this TV show to get the word out about the needs of this orphanage,” Ellis said. “The track manager had called me one day and said he knew someone who needed my help.”

Neale, who once lived in Sylva and now resides with his two boys in Charlotte, told Ellis about his desires to bring awareness and funding to this orphanage through a reality TV show. He wanted a series that helped others, not glorified excess and extravagance like most reality programming on television today.

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