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Dream Riders helping Malawians fulfill their dreams by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 31 | Thursday, June 18, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com An Oakville father and his two sons are going the distance to help children in Malawi fulfill their dreams. David Morrison, 48, and his children, Patrick, 19, and Daniel, 17 -- collectively known as the Dream Riders -- are tackling the annual Tour Divide, which started last Friday (June 12). It bills itself as the world's longest, toughest, self-supported mountain-bike race. The more than 4,400-kilometre (2,765 miles) route contains a series of interconnected trails, single-track dirt roads and mountain passes that follow the Great Continental Divide across North America -- from Banff, Alta., to Antelope Wells, N.M. on the Mexico border. The trio are hoping to raise $400,000 in the next 30 days it will take them to complete the race. The money will support 200 underprivileged high school students in Blantyre and southern Malawi. "It's really hard to get an education in southern Malawi. It's one of the poorest countries in the world. The youth live in homes where their parents are subsistent farmers. There is a lot of food insecurities, a lot of orphans and vulnerable kids," said David, who moved to Bangula, Malawi with his family in 2003. In the coming weeks, the Dream Riders will David Morrison (centre), 48, and his sons Patrick (left), 19, and Daniel, 17, are collectively known as the Dream Riders. The trio are tackling the annual Tour Divide, a more than 4,400 kilometre moutain bike race across 30 days in support of underprivileged high school students in Blantyre and southern Malawi. | photo by Eric Riehl ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) climb nearly 70 km vertically (200,000 feet) over the Rocky Mountains -- the equivalent of summiting Mount Everest seven times from sea level. David noted they will be riding about 150160 km a day. As a team, they've been training for the race for two years -- trekking 300-400 km for 15-20 hours per week, in recent months. "We'll go through snow, we'll go through mud and we'll go through bear country or cougars. It's a self-supported race, so we're not allowed to have any care packages waiting for us or people helping us along the way," said David. They call themselves the Dream Riders because they're helping young Malawian people "fulfill their dreams," the father of two said, as there aren't many opportunities for them to attend school. "They just can't afford it. The dream of being teachers, doctors, nurses... Malawi needs more educated people to transform and develop the nation," said David. "We felt called to help kids have a second chance in life -- get education, get love, family and support." Patrick, who won a 50-km mountain-bike race in Malawi in 2013, noted the idea to participate in the Tour Divide came to him five years ago after reading an article on the world's toughest endurance races. "I got pretty interested and looked it up online. I told my dad and I said, `You know what? I think I could do this at some point. I'm going to do this.' He looked at me and says, `I think you're crazy, but I think you could do it,'" said Patrick. "Then, he changed his mind and started thinking, `I could do that, too.'" The father-sons team is riding on behalf of Iris Ministries Malawi (IMM), which David is the director of. The charitable organization is funded through Empower Global Canada -- a group that delivers high-impact community development programs. Through IMM, the Morrison family has helped impoverished children, youth and comsee Teams' on p.32 Certified Auto Glass Technicians with 22 years of experience All windshield,door & back glass in stock We pay up to 100% of insurance Deductible · We deal directly with your Insurance Company · Life time Warranty against leaks · Stone chip repairs · Free Mobile Service · Free Pickup & Drop OFF d rs n this a Mentio dshield wipe in w e dels e o r F m t d and ge s to most make an Applie PEGGY'S distinctive ladies fashions SUMMER SIDEWALK 281 Speers Road Oakville ON OFF www.peggysfashions.ca n El iza be ye th cr W of ay tR d 40 - 70 % MOST SEASONAL DESIGNER FASHIONS All Sales Final SALE 905.339.0339 1.855.339.0339 www.speersautoglass.ca Ke rr St ee Qu South Oakville Centre (Hopedale Mall) 905-465-3499 All Sales Final Sp ee r sR rv al Dr oa d Do . W