To cycle 6000 kilometres across America is not an easy feat as it requires focus and good stamina.
This is what Letitia Shelton is attempting to do. This year, she hopes to conquer 6000km to raise funds for a book that will provide insightful knowledge to young people on topics often considered taboo in Fiji.
Letitia is a pastor and the chief executive officer of City Women, a non-profit in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, that works with women and girls.
Letitia is quite familiar with Fiji having lived here as a teen and attended Adi Cakobau School. She has also done impactful work with youths.
In 2019 she reconnected with Fiji and has been visiting regularly.
Since then, she has been working behind the scenes in trying to provide safe space for youths to comfortably share critical topics that affect them.
She hopes to make a difference by raising funds for a book called “Sex, Dating and Relationship”, something she has put together with 20 Fijian leaders.
But in order to fulfill her tough cycling goal, she needs to be well prepared.
She has dedicated three months so far to intense training and continues to push herself.
“It takes about nine months to train for a ride like this,” she said.
“At the moment, my training requires me to cycle at least 16 hours a week, and have three gym sessions to build strength.
“I’m doing all I can to prepare well and then I’ll have a good go at cycling the 6000km.”
Letitia says she loves the occasional challenge and would rather have a go at it than never stepping out and trying at all.
Her cycling route starts from Portland Oregon and finishes at Portland, Maine — a tough undertaking for anyone unfamiliar with the terrain.
She cycled 3000km through Australia four years ago, but that was nice and flat.
Cycling across the US, which has the Rocky Mountains, that she will have to climb over, would be a different ball game.
“I know this experience will stretch me physically, mentally and emotionally but you never grow unless you are willing to be stretched right?
“I love to cycle but knew I needed a worthy cause. I’ m cycling with a group of people I’ve never met, so I’m looking forward to building new friendships and also seeing the USA up close. Cycling is a great way to experience a country.”
What really pushes Letitia to do this is seeing how it will help youths in the future.
After speaking to many Fijians over the past five years about their relationships and seeing the lack of knowledge and help they received in their relationship, she and other leaders decided to put together a free resource book to help guide youths.
“We want it to be a free resource for youth – that is why I’m raising funds through cycling.
“We have seen that the youths have lots of questions on these topics, and so this book aims to help give some answers, wisdom and guidance to very important areas of young people’s lives.
Whatever is raised from her cycling will go towards the printing and distribution of the book.
“The book has been complied by 20 Fijian leaders and me. The different leaders have written on a range of topics including, the purpose of dating, how to breakup well, the destructive power of porn, what a healthy relationship looks like et cetera.
“Each chapter is linked to podcast interviews with Fijians who share their experiences and stories.”
Her podcast “The Disruptive Voices of the Pacific” has been going for two years now and has put out over 100 episodes.
“I started the podcast to give Fijians a voice and to share their stories.
“I greatly admire the courage of those who have spoken so honestly and vulnerably – and to disrupt the silence on many taboo issues in Fiji.”
People can donate to her cycling journey here https://rarama-ride-fiji.raiselysite.com/
Letitia starts cycling on August 21 from Portland, Oregon.
Letitia Shelton is attempting to conquer 6000km to raise funds for a book that will guide young people in Fiji. Picture: SUPPLIED
Pastor Letitia Shelton speaks to girls. Picture: SUPPLIED
She took up cycling about 10 years ago and immediately loved it.
Picture: SUPPLIED
In 2019 she reconnected with Fiji and has been visiting regularly.
Picture: SUPPLIED
