The Panjshir Tour Launches 10-3-10!! Let's get rolling, becausewesurf is hosting an event on Oahu, we need everyone's  help!

The Panjshir Tour Launches 10-3-10

Take bikers of both sexes, all ages, and various skills in cities across the country. Add in community, bike shops, advocates, and music to create a community bike ride. Raise money and awareness for a non profit organization working half a world away in a country where women can't ride bikes. Coincide the event with a groundbreaking ride by two women through said country - breaking barriers that women DO in fact ride bikes.

That's exactly what the Panjshir Tour is all about.

Launched to support Mountain 2 Mountain's work to empower women and children in Afghanistan through education, training, and job creation. The Panjshir Tour links bikers across the US with the efforts of two female riders in Afghanistan, riding through the Panjshir province.

Last fall, Mountain 2 Mountain's founder, Shannon Galpin rode her mountain bike in Afghanistan, becoming the first woman to do so. Her first ride was on her birthday on October 3, 2009 in the Panjshir province. She already had the idea for the Panjshir Tour but wanted to take the first step alone to see if she could ride her bike in a country of Taliban and landmines. Picking a mountainous province in the heartland of the Northern Alliance and the area most devoid of landmines, which also coincides with several projects that Mountain 2 Mountain is spearheading, she broke stereotypes and barriers. Women aren't allowed to ride bikes in Afghanistan - which is exactly why Shannon did it.

The date for The Panjshir Tour is set for 10-3-10, exactly one year from the groundbreaking ride. We are pulling together support in communities like Los Angeles, Vancouver, Oahu, DC, New York, Denver, Colorado Springs, Park City and others so that we can bring bikers together, doing what they love, to support the ride in Afghanistan and the efforts of Mountain 2 Mountain to empower women and children there.

For more information or to get involved in your community - please email us at info@mountain2mountain.com in Hawaii info@becausewesurf.com
We need bikers, bike shops, sponsors, volunteers, and community voices to make this a success for years to come. Mountain 2 Mountain

To keep up to date or to learn more - Become a fan and follow us on Facebook! Once you're a fan, please spread the word to your FB friends and family by inviting them to become fans as.

You can also follow on our Team M2M Blogsite: www.teamm2m.wordpress.com

"Education for women and girls is the first step towards empowerment. When these girls are given the tools not just to read and write, but to critically think, to understand political and social issues that affect them, then have the ability to be heard, to be respected, and to become the catalysts for change within their own country. This will do more for women's rights, violence against women and children, and economic growth than anything else we can do." - Shannon Galpin, Mountain 2 Mountain founder and director

Help Spread the Word and Stay Informed! One of the simplest ways you can help us is to share our story with your friends and family! Forward on our website and blogs to help us build the M2M community! Our M2M Facebook Fanpage Our Panjshir Tour Facebook Fanpage M2M on Twitter at: mtn2mtn