‘Pedal for Peace’ bike race raises funds for university partner
UIndy students and faculty rode in the “Pedal for Peace” bike race to raise funds for promoting peace.
By Kenny Norman | Staff Writer
University of Indianapolis students participated in a cycling event that will raise funds for a faraway school. The first annual “Pedal for Peace” event was held on Oct. 17 at the Major Taylor Velodrome.
Funds raised from “Pedal for Peace” will go to the Mar Elias College located in Galilee, Israel. Mar Elias, now known as the Nazareth Galilee Academic Institution, was formerly a branch campus of UIndy and obtained its accreditation in its home country partly in thanks to its partnership with UIndy.
According to the school’s Web site (mec.sahrat.net), Mar Elias promotes cross-cultural understanding and educates students from all religions and backgrounds, although it mainly educates Muslims, Jews and Christians, all of which are predominant faiths in Israel.
According to Greg Smith, senior student affairs associate, several parishioners of St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Indianapolis support Mar Elias. Since it had just started out as an independent college, parishioners of St. Luke’s believed that Mar Elias would benefit from extra funds.
St. Luke’s parishioners met and discussed ideas to raise money for Mar Elias, eventually deciding to form “Pedal for Peace,” is an event that “promotes peace and connection throughout the world by raising funds for organizations that are transforming their towns, cities and nations into communities of peace,” according to the event Web site, (pedalforpeaceindy.org).
Five UIndy faculty members and 11 students were involved, including eight honors students. Students were asked to ride 15 to 30 minutes each during the event.
Each team raised $1,000, and each member paid a $20 registration fee. The honors college at UIndy paid the registration fee for any honors student, and the university donated $1,000.
“Faculty and staff donated money, the honors and scholars floor raised money, and we also held a benefit concert,” said Greta Pennell, executive director of the honors college.
Pennell assisted in marketing the event, getting posters out and arranging a benefit concert. Pennell said that “Pedal for Peace” was “a way for students to make a difference on a global level by doing something right here at home.”
Smith was also a key faculty member in planning and coordinating UIndy’s involvement in the event. Smith got students to participate by sending out e-mails to faculty and staff and putting up posters in the residence halls.
“We didn’t get too many [students] involved since this is a busy time of year,” said Smith.
Pennell said she believes the purpose of the event fits really well with UIndy’s focus on social responsibility.
“Anything we can do to help promote peace I think will make the world a better place for all of us,” Pennell said.
