Baltazar De Anda-Santana is biking 24 hours in support of refugees and immigrants today. He just started his ride this morning at 8 a.m. at Olin Park on Madison’s south side.
“I have invited some people to join me and ride with me for the first hour. The goal is to ride 24 consecutive hours day and night,” says De Anda-Santana, the director at Orgullo Latinx LGBT+ and the founder of the Latino Academy of Workforce Development. “I will be riding on my own most of the time. I will ride through the cities of Madison. Fitchburg, Sun Prairie and Middleton. I have never done anything like this. I know if will be hard but the cause is important.”
One of De Anda-Santana’s goals for the ride is to raise awareness about the importance of the immigrant and refugee communities. His other goal is to raise money – a total of $2,000 – which will be distributed equally between Orgullo Latinx LGBT+ of Dane County and the AIDS Ride Act 15 in which he will be participating on July 28 to July 30.
“I will be keeping people updated throughout the day on my whereabouts and my progress and how they can make a donation to support this cause,” De Anda-Santana says.
De Anda-Santana encourages community members to get on their bikes and join him on his journey today if they are willing and able. He says it will be an easy ride since he needs energy for 24 hours. If you wish to join him, De Anda-Santana asks that you please clip a piece of cloth or paper on your shirt with the words “Riding In Support of Immigrants and Refugees.” For more information or to donate to the cause, click here.
