[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24512]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PARTICIPANTS OF ``PEDAL FOR PEACE'' 
                            OCTOBER 7, 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 7, 2009

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I want to commend the Santa Cruz County 
Participants of ``Follow the Women--Pedal for Peace''. This year's 
participants are Jane DeJarnette, Janet Fogel, Lilly Ann Popken, JoAnn 
Smith, Marilyn Marzell, and Elizabeth Schwartz. The objective of the 
ride is to raise awareness of violence in the Middle East and its 
affects on women and children, who suffer the most as a result of the 
conflict. The women from Santa Cruz County will be joining women from 
40 other countries.
  Created in 2004, the ``Follow The Women'' annual bicycle ride is the 
brainchild of 2001 European Woman of the Year and Nobel Peace Prize 
Nominee Detta Regan. In April 2004, she gathered together 270 women 
from all over the world, including the United States, Palestine, 
Britain and Iraq, to bike across Lebanon, Syria and Jordan to campaign 
for peace and an end to violence in the region. Traditionally 
throughout the Middle East, women do not ride bicycles making the 
``Follow the Women--Pedal for Peace'' ride extraordinary. It brings 
much attention to the worthy cause of promoting good relations between 
different cultures and ethnicities.
  ``Follow the Women'' has held several different events in addition to 
the annual bike ride. In 2007, they distributed medical kits in Gaza 
throughout the conflict. That year, they also held a youth exchange to 
explore and share the experiences between different cultures. The 
participants gained a better understanding of themselves and others.
  ``Follow the Women'' has also helped fund a counseling project in 
Ramallah. The aim of this project was to offer support to children and 
their families who were suffering following the conflict in the Middle 
East. This year, ``Follow the Women--Pedal for Peace'' hopes to raise 
enough funds to build a playground or possibly two for the children of 
Gaza.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Follow the Women and especially wish to 
recognize the riders from Santa Cruz. I wish them much luck in their 
annual bike ride.

                          ____________________