GEMS 2nd Annual Charity Bike Ride

Larry Chatterley, a cyclist and philanthropist from Denver, Colorado, will be riding 1,400 miles on the Pacific Coast Bike Route between Blaine, Washington and Santa Barbara, California to raise money for GEMS Development Foundation. The money raised from this event will be used to build, stock, and staff a medical clinic in Majok Goi, South Sudan, that will serve 5,000 villagers in the area.

In recent years, South Sudan has faced severe flooding, rising food insecurity, escalating violence and COVID-19. This deadly combination of emergencies has thrown South Sudan into a health care crisis, leaving millions of South Sudanese people without access to food, clean water, or basic healthcare services.

This will be Larry’s second long distance ride for GEMS. Last year’s ride raised over $75,000, funding 10 new water wells as well as repairs for four existing wells. These wells now provide access to clean water for over 7,000 people in Majok Goi.

Larry’s nephew, Zach Chatterley, an assistant professor lecturer for the Department of Writing and Rhetoric Studies at the University of Utah, will be joining him for this ride. Both Larry and Zach are participating in this ride because of their desire to help people who don’t have access to safe medical care.

Larry’s life of service has been guided by the words of Albert Einstein, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”  After spending 30 years consulting doctors on transitioning practices, practice management and leadership skills, Larry has embarked on a new phase of life doing humanitarian work and raising awareness of the challenges facing the people of South Sudan.  Larry says, “I just love empowering others with hope. It makes life much more meaningful.”