Tyler D’Arcy, 22, is a member of the Lowestrates.com Elite Cycling Team heading to the Tour of Rwanda in November.
“We were lucky to get invited to the Tour of Rwanda,” said D’Arcy, a Valley native. “I heard about this documentary – Rising From Ashes – through our manager. The only thing I knew about Rwanda was news items about genocide, but then we kept hearing about the documentary.
“After seeing it, we realized we could do a lot more than just race in this tour. Rwanda is seeing an incredible growth in the area of cycling.”
The team has kicked off a Rwanda Velo Project with a goal of collecting new or barely used cycling equipment and clothing. The team has established a number of drop off locations in Quebec and Ontario, so D’Arcy is hosting a monetary fundraiser. All money raised will go to travel and shipping costs of the equipment to Rwanda.
D’Arcy is hosting a screening of Rising From Ashes at Riverrun Golf Club on Oct. 27. The event begins at 6 p.m., with the documentary airing at 7.
“Through the riders who are portrayed in the documentary, you know they have seen horrible things and their life wasn’t going in a great direction. But you can see the hope that cycling brings to life,” said D’Arcy.
“You see them go to races in America, and the growth starting. It’s so inspiring to see the hope that cycling gives them.”
Tickets for the event are $15 in advance, purchased at Riverrun, Bike Monkey or Hub Cycle. Space permitting, tickets can be purchased for $20 at the door.
While the documentary may not explain the reason behind the growth in cycling in Rwanda, D’Arcy hopes to experience it first hand when participating in the Tour of Rwanda from Nov. 10 to 20.
Anyone wishing to make a financial contribution to the Rwanda Velo Project can visit https://www.gofundme.com/rwandaveloproject.
