The second annual Hammer of Hope Ride rolled through Sechelt May 17 raising awareness of Habitat for Humanity and raising funds to support local green building initiatives.
Terry Petkau, the director of building services for Habitat for Humanity Canada, started his four-day ride in Victoria on May 15, rolling through Salt Spring Island, Nanaimo and Courtenay, then on to Powell River and Lund, arriving in Sechelt last Tuesday.
He stopped in at the Habitat ReStore in Sechelt and paid a visit to the Sunshine Coast Village housing project in Wilson Creek before riding to Gibsons and spending the night. On May 18 he wrapped up the ride in Vancouver, site of this year's Habitat for Humanity national convention.
Petkau, who was joined on the ride by his wife Audrey Voth and sons Tyler and Evan, lives in Waterloo, Ont., site of Habitat's national headquarters.
He rode last year from Waterloo to Ottawa, site of the 2010 national convention, raising $15,000 along the way. He said he expects to raise another $15,000 during this year's ride.
"There are so many people of lower incomes who often face challenges with housing, and that's where Habitat comes in - to meet those challenges," Petkau said. "At the same time, Habitat is trying to build greener and more energy-efficient homes, but there is a cost to that. We're doing this ride to help raise funds to help all our affiliates across the country."
He said the support for the ride has been excellent.
"Everyone knows about Habitat for Humanity and has been so supportive," he said. "I have to say I was not prepared for the hills on the Sunshine Coast, but when I'm pumping my legs and working those gears, I know there is a reward on the other side, and that downhill on the other side is the reward."
Petkau also gave much praise to the efforts of the Habitat affiliate on the Coast.
"I've heard a lot of great things about the work of Habitat here on the Sunshine Coast and it's equal to the work done in a lot of larger communities," he said. "This is a small community with respect to population, but it is big in stature with respect to what they have accomplished with their housing initiatives. There is a strong volunteer core and this chapter should be commended for their great work. It's certainly impressive."
