Relief Riders International

08/20/2024

Beautiful film made by our horse manager Ganpath Singh of Heidi Craig's Relief Ride. You can read about it on our website. Don’t miss your chance to be part of something truly special. Ride with us this November or next February on a journey that will not only transform you but also the lives of those you encounter. When is now the right time to make a difference?November 2024 Pushkar Relief Ride 7-16 November February 2025 Khimsar Relief Ride 12-22 February, 2025.

08/19/2024

Dear Friends,

Alumni rider Chris Kirkwood, who is courageously battling advanced early-onset Alzheimer's, had one final wish: to ride with us one last time. This decision wasn't made lightly. But after imagining myself in Chris’s shoes, I knew that fulfilling his last big wish was not just important—it was essential. Chris’s presence on the ride profoundly impacted all of us, serving as a beautiful reminder of the power of NOW.

Capturing the essence of this incredible journey in her article, "The Ripple Effect: My Journey with Relief Riders,” alumni rider, Heidi Craig, offers a glimpse of the profound connections we made and the extraordinary experiences we shared:

"As the plane touched down in India, my excitement and nervousness swirled together. I had purposefully done no research about India in order to experience it as if through the eyes of a child, without any preconceived opinions. The reality of being in a completely different world hit me, but the warmth of the people hit me more. From the very beginning, I felt embraced by their hospitality. Our differences were vast, but the similarities, especially the universal language of love and kindness, were even more striking.” Read more…
https://www.reliefridersinternational.com/ripple_effect.php

Don’t miss your chance to be part of something truly special. Ride with us this November or next February on a journey that will not only transform you but also the lives of those you encounter. When is now the right time to make a difference?

November 2024 Pushkar Relief Ride: 7-16 November 2024

February 2025 Khimsar Relief Ride:12-22 February, 2025

"The service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth." — Muhammad Ali

08/14/2024

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08/14/2024

Dear friends,

It’s been a busy summer here as we are preparing for both of our upcoming rides. There has been a lot of interest and the rides are filling up.

RIDING WITH EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER’s
Two years ago we had the privilege of being able to provide a very special and unique heartfelt experience to one of our Alumni riders’. Chris Kirkwood, 55 who originally rode with us in 2006 and contacted me in the summer of 2022 wanting to participate on the November 2022 Pushkar Relief Ride. There was one caveat, he was diagnosed with early onset advanced Alzheimer’s. You can look forward to reading about the challenges, joys and transformative experiences we all had in an inspirational account written by Alumni rider Heidi Craig in our next newsletter. Sign up for our newsletter
https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001hDXaORE2PUTnX3Ci8ZdxBg%3D%3D

JOIN VETERAN RIDER NANCY HEISER EITHER IN A CAMEL CART OR AN AC SUV ON OUR FEBRUARY 2025 KHIMSAR RELIEF RIDE
Alumni rider, and New York resident Nancy Heiser, whom has joined us on two different Relief Rides, her first on horseback and her second in an SUV is putting out the call to Alumni riders and new non-riding participants alike to join her this February either on horseback or with her in the SUV. If you have been inspired by our work but did not have the riding skills to join us- Riding in an AC SUV or tented camel cart gives you the opportunity to be a part of the ride, participating in all of our signature humanitarian programs, while partaking in customised itinerary taking you to ancient ruins, sacred temples and villages. More information to follow.

FEBRUARY 2025 KHIMSAR RELIEF RIDE: 12-22 FEBRUARY, 2025
We have a breathe-taking ride this coming February giving us the opportunity to ride through the a large expanse of dunes, taking us on parts of the Silk route to ancient
monuments and forts. The region we will travel through is inhabited by the Bishnois, a tribe known for their stewardship of the well being of both animals and environment.
Along the way, we will be performing our much needed free cataract surgery and dental camp, educational and livestock programs culminating in a beautiful stay at a desert Oasis.

Seize the day and come ride with us as there are spaces still available this November or next February either on horseback, in a Camel Cart or in an SUV.

November 2024 Pushkar Relief Ride: 7-16 November 2024

February 2025 Khimsar Relief Ride:12-22 February, 2025

If you treat an individual as they are, they will remain how they are. But if you treat them as if they were what they ought to be and could be,
they will become what they ought to be and could be. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Note: In each email you receive, there will be a link to unsubscribe or change areas of interest. Your privacy is important to us - please read our Email Privacy Policy.

08/07/2024

503 Followers, 2,855 Following, 61 Posts

05/06/2024

Announcing our 2024/25
Relief Ride season.

Come ride with us while providing much needed medical, education and social support to communities with little to no health care.

November 2024 Pushkar Relief Ride
6-15 November, 2024

February 2025 Khimsar Relief Ride
12-22 February, 2025

09/26/2023

, one of the best riders I have met, up and ran off ba****ck with my one and only Gajraj, the stallion I ride on my Relief Rides! Respect.

Never a dull moment on our Relief Rides!

Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 24, 2024

09/26/2023

There was a period of several years where I had the great fortune to have been able to take portraits of some of the remarkable people we met while on our rides. Ram Singh, was a school grounds manager that we met at one of our many school visits.

PHOTO

Join on a remarkable journey to the world's largest horse and camel fair. An experience that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.

February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 2024.

09/20/2023

/PRNewswire/ -- Actor and horse activist Dawn Olivieri saddles up to join Relief Riders International (RRI) for relief mission via horseback in India. While...

09/17/2023

Most people who attend an RRI Medical Camp have never been treated by a doctor. RRI's Medical Camps are designed to allow Relief Riders with no previous medical experience to fully participate in assisting our team of Indian medical professionals providing essential medical treatments.

RRI addresses medical issues most needing attention in poor rural populations. The mobile medical camps are set up on the desert along the route of the Relief Ride and are staffed by opthamologists, Ear, Nose and Throat specialists, Pediatricians, Gynecologists and general physicians. On average the Relief Ride team treat about 600 people per day for a variety of diseases including upper respiratory ailments skin diseases, bactertial or viral infections and gynecological issues.
for more information: http://www.reliefridersinternational.com/Medical_Relief.html

PHOTO: Marc Lecurueil

Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 24, 2024

09/14/2023

That kind of compassionate engagement makes Alexander Souri a “change agent” according to Deepak Chopra, president of the Alliance for a new humanity, a group trying to catalyse social transformation in business. “The human soul is looking for meaning, context, relationships and archetypal stories to participate in. Social entrepreneurs like Alexander are creating meaning and purpose for themselves as well as for others” says Chopra, who add the bi-product of serving the world can be your own success.

Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 24, 2024

09/09/2023

S H A K T I

Meet Bimla, the Principal of Sotwas' government school. An incredible woman who keeps a simple desert school excelling in the face of patriarchal challenges. It is an honor to be able to support her and the many other schools we visit while on our Relief Rides.
Ride with us and be a part of helping rural communities with no healthcare.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 24, 2024



departuresmag vanityfair

09/08/2023

Remember the mission, you are in India, and time flows differently, Souri tells us as the fire burns down. Over the next two weeks, we must be flexible and ready to adapt. This ride is not mere travel but also a journey, unscripted beyond its fixed dates for medical clinics, school visits and goat distributions. It will be what we make it. Each of us must find the ride we have already in us.

Read more:
https://shorturl.at/biBT8

09/08/2023

M Y S T I C

One of my favorite aspects of our Pushkar Relief Ride is the serendipity of meeting Sadhus (wise/holy men) on their pilgrimage to the Brahma temple in Pushkar for the most auspicious Purnima (full moon) of the year. The vibe is palpable and most inspiring.
Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 24, 2024

09/07/2023

The experience of deciding to join one of our rides is best described by Joseph Campbell as "The call to adventure" on The Hero's Journey. It is the moment when the hero feels called away from their routine to venture into the unknown. Like many journeys the initial moments are mixed with indecision, yet somehow filled with a "knowing" that it is the right choice. Nicki Craddock shares this beautiful moment of wonder, choice and leaping into the unknown with us in her personal account of last November's Pushkar Relief Ride. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

https://www.reliefridersinternational.com/news_2019_08.php

Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 24, 2024

09/06/2023

Some 620 million people across India defecate outside, the largest number world-wide. About 70% of rural Indians don't use toilets, and 28 million children have no toilet facilities in school, according to Unicef. It is common practice for India's mothers to dispose of their children's waste in the open.

After 10 years of working in the humanitarian field, it is clear to us that simple measures such as sanitation and hygiene are essential for children to survive.

About 48 per cent of children in India are suffering from some degree of malnutrition. Diarrhea and worm infection are two major health conditions that affect school age children, at the least impacting their learning abilities, at worst contributing to high child mortality rates.

Ride with us this November and make the difference.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February, 2024

09/05/2023

Imagine the energy and excitement of 10,000 horses and 40,000 camels, brightly adorned and engaged in fiery competition and eclectic performances based on centuries old traditions, their tribesmen and owners vying for the perfect trade or the highest bid at the time of the full moon as they have done for centuries. It really is something to be experienced at least once in a lifetime!

Ride with us as we provide healthcare to communities in need on our way to the Pushkar fair.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 2024

Dawn Olivieri

09/04/2023

"A band of strangers gallops into town. Before they leave, they'll have dewormed 1200 kids, removed 200 cataracts and pulled 60 teeth. It's their vacation.”

Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023

February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 2024

Full article: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/0724/189.html

09/04/2023

According to the Journal of American Medicine, "Goat's milk is the most complete food known." It contains vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, protein, and fatty acids that are utilized by your body with ease.
With 48% of children under the age of 5 suffering from malnutrition in India, owning a goat can go a long way to providing adequate nutrition for a family. In addition to providing nourishment surplus goat milk or cheese can be sold by families at their local market to generate income.

Ride with us and experience the gift of giving goats to Below Poverty Level widows, individuals that are physically challenged and families who are struggling.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.
February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February, 2024

09/03/2023

One of my favorite experiences on the ride is creating an opportunity for meaningful connection between our riders and the 1200 students we visit on each of our rides.These moments are truly heartwarming and unique given that the students are meeting travelers for the first time. It's safe to say that we are all immersed in awe and wonder as students and riders are invited to freely ask questions to one another.
Later on in the morning riders distribute educational materials and sporting equipment followed by some general socializing with the students and teachers at school after the program. An experience that never gets old!

Join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.

February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride:14-24 February 2024

09/02/2023

Seva translates as the ‘art of selfless service,’ renouncing your own needs for the greater good. Ride with us on a unique journey and perform volunteer work in Rajasthan, India, you’ll be transformed by the work you do and the people you meet.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride:17-26 November

February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February.

DM me for more information



Photo

08/25/2023

Ride with us this coming November on the trip of a lifetime! 17-26 November, 2023.

February 2024 Khimsar Relief Ride: 14-24 February 2024



The experience of deciding to join one of our rides is best described by Joseph Campbell as “The call to adventure” on The Hero’s Journey. It is the moment when the hero feels called away from their routine to venture into the unknown. Like many journeys the initial moments are mixed with indecision, yet somehow filled with a “knowing” that it is the right choice.
Nicki Craddock shares this beautiful moment of wonder, choice and leaping into the unknown with us in her personal account of last November’s Pushkar Relief Ride

08/18/2023

Dear Friends,

Sadly our Relief Riders International Instagram account was hacked and deleted a couple of weeks ago. In truth the experience was humbling as we lost our showcase platform of all of our work experiences, as well as the 20k followers who have shown wondrous support for our work. We are currently re-populating our page and would appreciate your support again by following us
Thank you again and in appreciation✨🙏🏽✨

07/26/2023

Want to ride through the dunes to the worlds largest horse and camel fair and ba part of a medical camp team offering free cataract surgeries and dental treatments to communities with no healthcare?

Then come join us on a remarkable journey that will leave you and the people you meet transformed.

November 2023 Pushkar Relief Ride : 17-26 November, 2023.

Please DM me for ride details.

P H O T O : Bhanu Pratap Singh Rathore

07/04/2023

Want to come to Bhutan with me to perform a medical camp for Monks(And meet Dignitaries too)?

For the first time in our 20-year history, we are inviting a small group of likeminded travellers to experience our development process. This non-horseback journey will take us to three iconic districts in Bhutan.

We will dine with the Minister of Health and and former Minister of Happiness among other dignitaries, tour sacred sites with the conservators who recently restored them, meditate with monks in monasteries and sacred caves, and try your hand at Bhutanese archery with a champion. Then, exclusive to Relief Riders as part of this unique medical needs assessment tour, we will help out at a dental camp we have organized for monks at their monastery.

For me, visiting Bhutan, "The Last Shangri La,” is a long-held dream. It’s one of the few places left on Earth where people and nature exist in harmony famed for being the only carbon-negative country on our planet and pioneering the concept of Gross National Happiness.

The opportunity for this wondrous experience came about a few years ago, initially being invited to perform our Relief Rides by the nation’s top cu

06/30/2023

Want to come to Bhutan with me to perform a medical camp for Monks(And meet Dignitaries too)?

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Want-to-come-check-out-Bhutan-with-me--and-meet-dignitaries--too--.html?soid=1101629092642&aid=UVuTeMYA-08&fbclid=PAAaastl7FcyA0D9rTtZss25l4QpiiVM0bjl2ceOrcNBLeCE6u2AcaSZVvGB8_aem_AQuXJ_3EYjXoh1J91OnpT4nAobYg_OlWYeWUVIYcdj4sdaYxqPpJNm_nKd7S3BdZ0fc

10/25/2022

Are you ready to ride with us this coming February in the warmth of the winter sun?

February 2023 Khimsar Relief Ride:
15-25 February 2023

Join us on an extraordinary ride that has us depart from the village of Baghsara in the Thar desert, which provided refuge in olden days to pilgrims and traders on the silk route.
The landscape that we travel through on this particular ride is the most varied of all our itineraries. We will ride through rolling hills with rocky outcroppings for a day, to a vast desert plain where nomadic tribes herd hundreds of camels to more fertile grazing. The region is populated by the Bishnois, a vegan and animal loving tribe, whose strict no hunting laws have, over centuries, created a beautiful anomaly in which all animals roam fearlessly in the desert.
As with all of our Relief Rides, you will be instrumental in offering the greatest gift to those in need, such as regaining their eyesight, their ability to chew food, and by providing tools and sporting equipment that will inspire children into finishing their education. The ride culminates at a magical desert oasis camp in Khimsar.

https://www.reliefridersinternational.com/Khimsar_ride_2023.php

08/19/2022

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." --Dalai Lama