S.S.B. staff bikes for charity
With so much negative attention focused on the Social Security Board, it’s easy to lose sight of the staff which serves the public when we go their offices to make contributions or collect benefits. But this week, the S.S.B. workers are doing their part to help Belizean charities by going the extra mile… Or should we say, hundreds of extra miles?
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
?Ride Across Belize? is one of the most gruelling activities undertaken by the Social Security Board to raise funds for organisations in need. Most of the riders are members of the S.S.B. staff who have volunteered to pedal a total of three hundred and eighty-eight miles for the good cause. In the past three days the riders have already passed through the Southern and Western part of the country that included stops in Punta Gorda, Independence, Dangriga, Belmopan, and San Ignacio.
This morning, they arrived in Belize City where the men received a hearty welcome. The riders admit the hot and humid weather made the journey and even more challenging one.
Rolando Zetina, Rider
?The first stage was difficult because it was a long ride and I was telling the guys it feels like you?re riding on a comal, because the heat comes up from the pavement and it?s very difficult to ride under those conditions.?
Dr. Ramon Figueroa, Veteran Rider
?We had a lot of riders from Belize joining us along the way, which was nice. They do a lot of the work. This year I think it was harder because we don?t have as many riders. I think, as one of the previous riders mentioned, the first leg was extremely difficult, part of it being because we didn?t have other riders to pace for us.?
Jacqueline Woods
?Any injuries so far??
Dr. Ramon Figueroa
?Well just the little cramps here and there, the normal pains that you would expect from a ride of this nature.?
Ariel Rosado, Rider
?A lot of people they clap, they cheer us on, always shouting, ?Keep it up, you?re doing good, you?re doing good.?
The riders have eighty-four more miles to go, taking them from Belize City to Orange Walk and Corozal. ?Ride Across Belize? has already has raised twelve thousand, five hundred dollars. In addition, S.S.B. will match the amount. The proceeds will be equally divided between Stella Maris Academy for the Deaf and the Youth Hostel. The institutions will use the donation for repairs and programmes.
Yasin Shoman, Chairman, Social Security Board
?We look at the needs of the community and the staff makes recommendations to the Board and then we agree on who we?re going to help at any one time.?
The riders say they are encouraged by the overall response and that they exceeded their target amount of ten thousand dollars.
Rolando Zetina
?We as members of the Social Security staff decided to ride for a cause. We have many institutions in Belize that need support, and we thought that riding across Belize and asking for donations from the general public would be a good way to help those institutions.?
Dr. Ramon Figueroa
?I think that is what makes it fun, makes it worth the while, the cause itself. I think it?s time to give back to people, and I think this year we raised a lot more money than last year, so in that sense it?s getting better.?
Tonight, the riders are taking a well-deserved rest before they get back on their bikes Saturday morning and pedal north.
“Ride Across Belize” is part of activities celebrating S.S.B.’s twenty-fourth anniversary.
