Wild Ride lights the way to safe births in Mozambique and Madagascar

With files from Lucinda Congolo, Mozambique Country Director for We Care Solar

Alongside Hope’s 2025 Wild Ride is raising funds to equip eight health clinics with life-saving Solar Suitcases. As of September 19, 47 individuals and 21 teams have registered to fundraise on our platform at alongsidehope.org/wild-ride. Supporters have donated $34,146, over half of the goal of $52,000. It’s not too late to get involved! And thanks to a generous donor, all gifts will be matched, doubling the impact!

At Muripotana Health Centre in Nampula, midwife Ancha Amido Abdala used to begin every night shift in darkness, with no lights, no power, and no possibility of admitting patients after dark. In 2022 that changed, when Alongside Hope and partner EHALE installed a Solar Suitcase – a bright yellow, wall‑mounted box powered by solar panels. Inside, it holds LED lights, a fetal Doppler, headlamps, phone chargers and a thermometer.

Abdala says it made an immediate difference. “There was no way to handle medical materials in the dark,” she recalls. After lighting went live, women began coming to the clinic at night; births increased, and transparency improved because the patients’ companions could follow procedures clearly.

“I gave birth at night,” said one new mother. “I felt very happy because I could see what the nurse was doing.” In districts with installations, night‑time births rose by about 17 percent, and more than 80,000 babies have been safely delivered since 2016, thanks to the installation of 80 Solar Suitcases across the province. The suitcases are made by We Care Solar.

The Wild Ride has attracted fundraisers of all kinds from coast to coast. Bishop Lynne McNaughton of the Diocese of Kootenay is a veteran cyclist of the Wild Ride and its predecessor, the Ride for Refuge. But she’s ditching her bike this year in favour of walking 200 km. “I walk a fast 2 km up into the orchards near my house, a steep climb up onto the ‘bench’ where I can see a stunning view of Okanagan Lake. One Saturday at the end of the summer I’m inviting people to join me for a 5 or 10 km walk in a forest park in Kelowna.” Bishop Lynne was inspired to get involved when seeing the Solar Suitcase demonstration at General Synod. “The suitcases are a brilliant design, portable and practical. They meet such a crucial need. I love walking and walk anyway so why not make that walk count for joining God in God’s work of mending the world.”     

Also in the Diocese of Kootenay, Andrew Stephens-Rennie is walking 450 km in Rossland, B.C.

At St. Timothy’s in 100 Mile House, B.C., the name says it all. Shelby Byer is organizing parishioners to walk 100 miles. And Joy Gothard is spearheading the Kamloops WaySeekers of St. Paul’s Cathedral as she rides her e-bike from Kamloops to St. Peter’s in Monte Creek five times (200 km). She also plans to host a walk in the alpine meadows of Sun Peaks. Located in the Territory of the People, the people of St. Timothy’s and St. Paul’s are following in the footsteps of their Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Clara Plamondon.

Bishop Clara is creating 50 prayer flags. “I love the idea of creating a visual symbol of our prayer for the people and communities that will be supported and helped through this initiative,” she says. “I will be making the prayer flags from various fabrics and colours with a focus on Mozambique and Madagascar. As I create the flags, I will be taking time to learn about these two countries, their culture and ways. I will be praying specifically for those who will benefit from the gift of these solar suitcases.”

This connection between prayer and action is important to Bishop Clara. “The Wild Ride allows us to join our shared mission and ministry efforts with the global community. I have wanted to do something for the Wild Ride for quite some time, and I wanted to encourage others to do the same. My inspiration is Betty Davidson from Yukon who is known for crocheting baby blankets for Wild Ride. She reminded me that there are many creative ways to raise funds for this important work.”

Indeed, Betty Davidson has been crocheting baby blankets for the Wild Ride for many years and intends to again make 10 this year. “The solar suitcases provide the light needed to help mothers give birth safely and give them security and confidence,” says Davidson. “During the year, I make baby blankets for those having babies, or who have family members or friends throughout Canada having babies.”

Having a safe birth hits home for Davidson. “I was medivaced to Whitehorse when my son was born and I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been to have been in the situation I was in, if there had been no light and no electricity. I really want to be a part of helping Alongside Hope in their desire to help the mothers, doctors and nurses of Mozambique and Madagascar.”

Jasmine Sandham, a parish rep at St. Paul’s, Thunder Bay, also has a personal motivation. “My mom’s pregnancy with my younger sister was highly complicated. And if they had to deliver her in darkness, both probably would have died.”

Also a veteran Wild Ride participant, this year Jasmine Sandham is organizing a six-hour art bee. “I join every year because I feel that it’s a good way to get my church involved in an amazing project along with the rest of the Anglican Church of Canada,” she says. St. Paul’s is one of nine parishes in the Thunder Bay North Shore Deanery walking for the Wild Ride, and in honour of Archbishop Anne Germond’s ministry. “My goal is to have at least ten people from St. Paul’s join either the walk or the Art Bee,” says Sandham.

The Venerable Bill Mous, Executive Archdeacon of the Diocese of Niagara, is cycling 85 km from Port Weller to Port Colborne and back along the Welland Canal Trail for his Wild Ride. “Our family has been blessed by having well-equipped midwives attend the births of our children,” says Bill. “Through this project, we’d like to do the same for families in Mozambique and Madagascar.” His goal is to raise $6,500, enough for one suitcase.

Alongside Hope staffers, from Toronto, Kitchener, Hamilton and more, are also supporting the campaign. One trio – Kim Umbach, Suzanne Rumsey and Janice Biehn – are running, cycling and swimming a combined distance of 1,200 km, representing the distance between Mozambique and Madagascar.

On the east coast, the team from the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador has participants kayaking and hiking. Maxine Drover is Hiking for Hope and Christine Lynch is kayaking 200 km.

These efforts will make a big difference for midwives like Abdala. The Solar Suitcase is a tool that transforms the quality of care. She explains that even during suturing, the room is bright enough to explain and demonstrate each step to women and their companions. In one emergency, the light made it possible to resuscitate a preterm baby that wasn’t crying and begin immediate skin‑to‑skin contact with the mother.

That visibility builds trust. “At first, community members didn’t always respect me,” Abdala says. “But when they saw what I could do with the Solar Suitcase, attitudes changed. Now almost everyone respects my work.”

Even clinics that already have inconsistent grid power benefit from the solar backup. Abdala adds, “I ask that this be provided to other centres – even those connected to the grid – because electricity alone isn’t always enough.”

How to Help

It’s not too late to join the Wild Ride and help provide clinics with renewable energy in Mozambique and Madagascar! The Wild Ride continues until the end of October and anyone can take part – a group or an individual. Walk, cycle, knit, bake, paddle, pray, sing – choose any activity you enjoy. Register as an individual or as a team and help us raise funds for eight solar suitcases – which will become 16 with a matching gift!

Register today at AlongsideHope.com/Wild-Ride. And if you have any questions or need help, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Kim Umbach at kumbach@alongsidehope.org

Can’t join the Wild Ride this year? You can still help provide solar energy in Mozambique and Madagascar. Give at alongsidehope.org/wild-ride.