Community is so important! The DETERMINED Cycling Tour is focused on connecting communities through physical fitness and putting our students first. 

The proceeds from the DETERMINED Cycling Tour will help to create a $1.5 million endowment for Adventist Education in the Texas Conference.  We want to provide Adventist Education for all students who desire to attend but may not be able to afford it. 

The multi-day Official Cycling Tour riders are committed to raising funds to offset their food and lodging expenses, keeping the focus on the students. They also realize the importance of being an example to show others cycling is a great way to take care of their health. 

Volunteers dedicate their time to help this campaign be a financial success, especially at each rally along the tour. This year, anyone can join the DETERMINED team at their own physical fitness level. Consider partnering with us to show your organization is committed to health and Adventist Education. 

From the beginning, the Tour de Youth (2015-2018) focused on supporting education and health initiatives that would change the lives of youth and young adults throughout the southwest territories of the United States. The Tour de Youth event was not just a multi-day Cycling Tour to check off a bucket-list item; it was a life-changing journey to bring awareness to a silent killer: obesity. 

Elizabeth Landau with CNN.com Health reported more than a decade ago that the adult obesity rate had risen in 28 states. She shared in her article, “Ten out of 11 states with the highest rates of obesity are located in the South.” These findings are incredible and frightening. Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PolicyLink cites that income disparities “may contribute to this trend of obesity… in the South.“ Landau points out the racial disparities in the U.S. Black and Latino communities are also higher than any other race in nearly every state. Today in 2021, the numbers are getting worse. The rate of childhood obesity is not fairing any better, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) with data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Five of the ten top cities for youth and young adult obesity are in the state of Texas. The NCSL reports that the overall obesity rate remains high and prevalent among children between the ages of two and 19 and has been consistent for 10 years. 

The DETERMINED Cycling Tour is seeking to partner with Adventist Education, Health and Wellness and other organizations to do our part to fight this problem. We know that we can’t change everyone, but we can do our part to educate, encourage and support as many schools, youth groups, organizations and individuals as possible and be the example for others to see something positive happening.