Hey Team,
SO another fine fellow wrote a lovely article about the Roadtrip with Reason for the Sheridan Sun Online! It is a great article with pictures and all. Give it a read HERE! There was also something else written in the newspaper titled "Give more than money this holiday season" which ties in quite well with our little project -- be sure to check it out.
For all my lazy readers (hehe), I have copied out the article below.......ENJOY!
Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Trekking across Canada for a Reason
A former Sheridan student wants to leave her mark on Canada next summer when she hits the road for a cross-country trip to promote various charities.
“Roadtrip with Reason” will be a three-month journey to lend a helping hand to non-profit organizations nationwide.
A post-graduate of the corporation communications program, 23-year-old Becky Conlon works for the Arts Council of Muskoka in Bracebridge and came up with the idea after contemplating her future recently, as her contract ends in July.
“I’ve always wanted to take a road trip across Canada. I love road trips and that’s been sort of my dream, but I didn’t really want to just take a trip,” said Conlon in a phone interview. “I started thinking about not-for-profit organizations, how I’m passionate about them and how I think there needs to be a little bit more exposure to them.”
Trip starts out east
Conlon will begin the trip on Aug. 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador. She expects to arrive in Nunavut in early November when she finishes.
“It’s going to be difficult because it’s the very beginning of the planning stages. It depends on how many days I need to spend in each province to be able to spend enough time with not-for-profit organizations to get to where I need to go,” said Conlon.
It’s a little early to know what organizations she will be working for, but Conlon adds that she is interested in working with groups that specialize in everything from arts and culture to the environment.
“I’m really focusing on small, action-oriented organizations that are really doing something with themselves and really making an effort,” said Conlon. “The ones that are struggling the most and the ones that don’t have as much funding.”
Conlon hopes to have a car by next summer so that she can make the trek but failing that, she does have an alternative so the trip can happen.
“Hopefully by August I will and if not, I will find a way to do it,” said Conlon. “You never know, I could end up taking a bus trip across Canada.”
If she does find a car in time, Conlon will need plenty of rest and take lots of breaks to ensure her safety on the long-distance trip, according to Valerie Powell, communications and media coordinator for the Canada Safety Council.
"I’m really focusing on small, action-oriented organizations that are really doing something with themselves and really making an effort."
“A lot of people try and push themselves to drive as far as they can and then they get drowsy. Being tired and drowsy behind the wheel is an impairment,” said Powell.
“If you’re feeling sleepy, take a break. Also, make sure to get your vehicle checked right before you leave.”
When it comes to how much driving someone should handle per day, there is no standard as each person is different and it depends on the amount of rest she gets before the drive, says Powell.
“Some people can drive longer than others. Maybe one day, somebody can drive 12 hours and the next day they can only drive eight, depending on how they feel.”
In addition to having adequate rest for the drive,Conlon will also have to worry about cost, as things such as food, gas and accommodations can get expensive for a three-month road trip.
Conlon says she has a plan to cut costs on accommodations.
Couch surfing
“I love to camp and I love the outdoors, so for the most part I will be doing this in the summer and I’m going to be looking at just camping and couch surfing,” said Conlon.
“My biggest cost is going to be gas I think and that I will figure out along the way.”
Conlon hopes some of the people she meets will also come along for a part of the journey and share in her experience.
She is using her website to advertise her trip and invite as many people as possible to get involved.
“If people want to come on the road trip with me for a couple days or week at a time, I’d love to have them. I really want to reach as many people as possible,” said Conlon.
“When we get closer to the actual trip time, hopefully we will have some funds and new people on the road with me and be
able to experience it with me.”
Having been involved with various non-profit organizations throughout her life, Conlon knows how difficult it can be for groups to find support to keep them afloat.
Conlon cares
“It’s hard to do all this tough work without that feeling of, ‘okay, at least somebody cares.’ I’m hoping that I can just at least say thank you to the people who are running the organizations,” said Conlon.
“This might be a fun trip and I’ll see what happens. It could turn into something wonderful and if not, then I will have myself a great trip and a great volunteer experience.”
If you’re interested in joining Conlon on her trip, you can sign up online at: www.roadtripwithreason.ca. She also has a Facebook page (Roadtrip with Reason) and a Twitter account (@roadtripwreason) set up where people can follow her progress.
SO another fine fellow wrote a lovely article about the Roadtrip with Reason for the Sheridan Sun Online! It is a great article with pictures and all. Give it a read HERE! There was also something else written in the newspaper titled "Give more than money this holiday season" which ties in quite well with our little project -- be sure to check it out.
For all my lazy readers (hehe), I have copied out the article below.......ENJOY!
Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Trekking across Canada for a Reason
A former Sheridan student wants to leave her mark on Canada next summer when she hits the road for a cross-country trip to promote various charities.
“Roadtrip with Reason” will be a three-month journey to lend a helping hand to non-profit organizations nationwide.
A post-graduate of the corporation communications program, 23-year-old Becky Conlon works for the Arts Council of Muskoka in Bracebridge and came up with the idea after contemplating her future recently, as her contract ends in July.
“I’ve always wanted to take a road trip across Canada. I love road trips and that’s been sort of my dream, but I didn’t really want to just take a trip,” said Conlon in a phone interview. “I started thinking about not-for-profit organizations, how I’m passionate about them and how I think there needs to be a little bit more exposure to them.”
Trip starts out east
Conlon will begin the trip on Aug. 1 in Newfoundland and Labrador. She expects to arrive in Nunavut in early November when she finishes.
“It’s going to be difficult because it’s the very beginning of the planning stages. It depends on how many days I need to spend in each province to be able to spend enough time with not-for-profit organizations to get to where I need to go,” said Conlon.
It’s a little early to know what organizations she will be working for, but Conlon adds that she is interested in working with groups that specialize in everything from arts and culture to the environment.
“I’m really focusing on small, action-oriented organizations that are really doing something with themselves and really making an effort,” said Conlon. “The ones that are struggling the most and the ones that don’t have as much funding.”
Conlon hopes to have a car by next summer so that she can make the trek but failing that, she does have an alternative so the trip can happen.
“Hopefully by August I will and if not, I will find a way to do it,” said Conlon. “You never know, I could end up taking a bus trip across Canada.”
If she does find a car in time, Conlon will need plenty of rest and take lots of breaks to ensure her safety on the long-distance trip, according to Valerie Powell, communications and media coordinator for the Canada Safety Council.
"I’m really focusing on small, action-oriented organizations that are really doing something with themselves and really making an effort."
“A lot of people try and push themselves to drive as far as they can and then they get drowsy. Being tired and drowsy behind the wheel is an impairment,” said Powell.
“If you’re feeling sleepy, take a break. Also, make sure to get your vehicle checked right before you leave.”
When it comes to how much driving someone should handle per day, there is no standard as each person is different and it depends on the amount of rest she gets before the drive, says Powell.
“Some people can drive longer than others. Maybe one day, somebody can drive 12 hours and the next day they can only drive eight, depending on how they feel.”
In addition to having adequate rest for the drive,Conlon will also have to worry about cost, as things such as food, gas and accommodations can get expensive for a three-month road trip.
Conlon says she has a plan to cut costs on accommodations.
Couch surfing
“I love to camp and I love the outdoors, so for the most part I will be doing this in the summer and I’m going to be looking at just camping and couch surfing,” said Conlon.
“My biggest cost is going to be gas I think and that I will figure out along the way.”
Conlon hopes some of the people she meets will also come along for a part of the journey and share in her experience.
She is using her website to advertise her trip and invite as many people as possible to get involved.
“If people want to come on the road trip with me for a couple days or week at a time, I’d love to have them. I really want to reach as many people as possible,” said Conlon.
“When we get closer to the actual trip time, hopefully we will have some funds and new people on the road with me and be
able to experience it with me.”
Having been involved with various non-profit organizations throughout her life, Conlon knows how difficult it can be for groups to find support to keep them afloat.
Conlon cares
“It’s hard to do all this tough work without that feeling of, ‘okay, at least somebody cares.’ I’m hoping that I can just at least say thank you to the people who are running the organizations,” said Conlon.
“This might be a fun trip and I’ll see what happens. It could turn into something wonderful and if not, then I will have myself a great trip and a great volunteer experience.”
If you’re interested in joining Conlon on her trip, you can sign up online at: www.roadtripwithreason.ca. She also has a Facebook page (Roadtrip with Reason) and a Twitter account (@roadtripwreason) set up where people can follow her progress.
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