Charity activities have always been a focus of attention for all sectors of society. Nowadays, whether well-known enterprises or individual members of the public, many are getting involved in charitable initiatives to lend a helping hand to those in need. Garmin (a leading GPS brand from the United States) is also a strong advocate for such causes. On July 2, the "2014 Taiwan Children's Cycling Angels – Beijing to Shanghai China Ride" charity event, sponsored by Garmin, will officially kick off. Nearly 40 disadvantaged children from Taiwan and 10 middle school students from mainland China will embark on a 13-day "Beijing to Shanghai" cycling journey.
The young riders, selected through competitions, will use bicycles as their main mode of transportation, cycling 50 kilometers each day. Starting from Beijing, they will pass through regions including Tianjin, Shandong, and Jiangsu, before finally arriving in Shanghai to complete the "Beijing to Shanghai" ride. For the Taiwanese children who may not know much about mainland China, this event serves as an opportunity to learn about Chinese culture. The young riders will also visit famous attractions such as Mount Tai, the Confucius Temple, and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, gaining firsthand experience of the geography, culture, history, and customs of the mainland. This initiative plays a positive role in promoting cross-strait cultural exchange, advocating energy conservation, reducing emissions, and calling on all sectors of society to pay attention to vulnerable groups.
Cycling route of the Children’s Cycling Angels
As the organizer of this event, Garmin will provide bicycle computers throughout the journey to record the riding performance of each young rider, as well as various GPS devices including in-car GPS units, dash cams, action cameras, and GPS radios. These tools will assist with navigation, recording, and coordination during the long trip. In addition, Garmin will supply a variety of supplements to offer comprehensive service support and help both Taiwanese and mainland young riders successfully complete the "Beijing to Shanghai" journey.
The "2014 Taiwan Children's Cycling Angels – Beijing to Shanghai China Ride" is another charitable initiative by Garmin following its 2013 donation to the Yao Foundation through the "Jiayou Tuan" (Buddy Group). In 2012, with the full effort of the entire team, Garmin successfully completed the [Taiwan Children's Cycling Angels Dream Plan] charity project. The young riders saw sights they had only read about in books, such as the Great Wall, the Bird’s Nest, the Yangtze River, and the Yellow River, and gained a deeper understanding that compatriots on both sides of the strait share an inseparable blood bond. In the future, Garmin will continue to do its utmost to help these disadvantaged children realize their dream of traveling across China, making more active efforts to promote cross-strait cultural exchange and the betterment of cross-strait relations.