Margaux Smith has never been to Cambodia.
Nor, for that matter, has she seen much of Canada.
But next week, the Dutch native and her mom will launch an adventure of a lifetime: Cycling across this nation to fundraise for a school in the Asian country.
"It's a good way to see Canada," she said. "I'm so excited to get going."
On Monday, the Smiths will begin their 5,500-km, coast-to-coast journey from York House School in Vancouver and will travel later that day through the Tri-Cities.
They'll make their way along Lougheed Highway, passing through Port Coquitlam — the hometown of Terry Fox, the Canadian hero whose 1980 Marathon of Hope started a slew of cross-Canada benefit runs — before ending their day in Mission.
Along the way, the duo will stay in a number of places: homes of follower cyclists (via WarmShowers.org, a free hospitality exchange for touring cyclists); friends' houses; and motels.
For their 55 days on the road, they'll have no escort and will be carrying all of their gear — food, clothing, safety equipment, etc. — themselves.
Smith said she has been preparing for a year, exercising on an indoor cycling trainer and cycling once a week for 100 km.
And she has learned a lot about the Cambodian school she's supporting through monthly Skype sessions with the staff and students.
She found the Katcham School online through the U.K.-based charity United World Schools. It opened two years ago in the Lumphat district of Ratanakiri and is thriving, with an enrolment of more than 150 students.
Smith said because she and her family have travelled extensively, they have seen children around the world go without the basic right to education.
"Everybody needs to have an equal chance to go to school — no matter where they live," she said.
Her goal is to collect $15,000, the cost of operating Katcham School for a year.
• To donate, visit margauxsride.com.
[email protected]
@jwarrenTC
