BY PEDRO BENITEZ-CRESPO
How does riding a bicycle from Canada to Mexico sound? Crazy right? Well, not for Lady JB Owen and Peter Giesin, who left their hometown in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada on July 8 to kick off a summer-long tandem cycling journey that took them south to their final destination of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, arriving one month later on August 12. With an epic route of over 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), this is their fourth time cycling throughout the summer to raise money and awareness on how we all need to come together and “Ignite Humanity”.
Lady JB and her partner Peter have established a publishing house, focused on people finding their “ignite moment.” Peter said, most, if not all people, have had a moment in their lives that could be described as a sort of crossroads, where they reached a significant realization of what they want in life, or were inspired in some way to see possibilities. These are what he and his partner call the “ignite moments.” Their aim is to help aspiring writers publish their stories, which will also inspire others. So far they have published 18 international bestsellers by 35 authors. “It’s about igniting humanity to what’s possible,” he said.
For this arduous trip, they have had plenty of practice, since they pedaled 5,000 kilometers in 2020 from Ottawa and back to Red Deer, Alberta. In 2021 they cycled another 6,500 kilometers (4,000 miles) to the Alaskan border and last year they did 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) coast to coast across Canada!
Forrest Gump once stated: “for no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I’d gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I’d gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going.” These two just kept on pedaling!
“And the great thing about a tandem is we work together, since riding a tandem bike really is a great relationship-builder,” said Lady JB. A smile accompanies much of the conversation with the upbeat pair. We did a lot of mental visualization training,” added Peter. They both said the longest they have biked a day is a whopping 100 kilometers (62 miles).
While there have been plenty of people to talk to along the way, Lady JB said the quiet moments stand out during the cross-country ride. “That part is beautiful,” she said. “We don’t see the world through a lens, we don’t see it through a windshield, we don’t see it through a phone, we see the eagles right there; we hear the frogs croaking in the pond, we hear the rustle of a deer. That part is so exhilarating and exciting.”
The couple plans to give their legs a rest next year before their most epic ride yet: the ‘Big Loop’ in Australia. It will entail 43,000 kilometers (26,700 miles) around the country’s entire circumference! “It will probably take four months to do,” said Lady JB.
Of this year’s trip, Lady JB Owen shares, “We are determined to make an impact on every person we meet. Humanity is at its greatest when we connect authentically and share open-heartedly with one another.”
The inspirational duo has raised money for the Sunshine Foundation, and their School of Hope initiative created in partnership with the Classroom of Hope, which funds the building of schools made with eco-friendly blocks using plastic removed from the landfills in rural and impoverished areas around the world. To date, Lady JB and Peter have funded the completion of an amazing two-classroom school in Lombok, Indonesia, fulfilling the dreams of so many parents and children.
This year, the couple is raising money for their next Ignite Humanity Schools in India and Turkey. They are committed to building 12 schools in 12 countries to help children gain access to education and Ignite literacy. Since they are in Mexico this summer, they will also be supporting the Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, a charity they have partnered with.
The Los Cabos Children’s Foundation collaborates with programs and initiatives that help children maintain healthy lives. Their programs support children with cancer and congenital heart defects making sure they receive the treatment they need. They are also dedicated to supporting critical health by assisting emergency rooms and funding programs that support disabilities, greater physical and mental health. Peter and Lady JB will deliver the funds they collect at an event organized in Los Cabos—their final destination.
Ignite Humanity is dedicated to inspiring and empowering as many people as possible, creating a ripple effect of goodness, positivity, and possibilities that resonate with those in need around the world. If we all choose to Ignite another while igniting ourselves, we create a better future and Ignite the world. As founders of Ignite™, Peter and Lady JB Ignite Humanity through charity initiatives, empowering content, and incentives that build connection and foster camaraderie.
Check out their website at https://ignitehumanity.life/ and remember, there is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Wherever there is a human in need, there is an opportunity to make a difference.
If you wish to fund this beautiful initiative in collaboration with Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, please do so through this link: https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/lccf/ignite
