It was about two years ago when Tim Dennis decided his life needed a shake-up.
A horse livery business "wasn’t fulfilling me, so I thought: Right, I’ll sell everything up and do something significant."
The 35-year-old Brit did that, chose a charity for which he would raise awareness, then headed east from the U.K. in a heavily-modified Toyota Land Cruiser.
His overland route took him through much of Europe, Russia and the former Soviet bloc. After hitting Japan, he put the truck on a boat and sailed with it to Vancouver last November.
After stops in the north, he landed in Penticton six days ago; he’s due in Toronto in March.
Dennis chose to support Street Kids International after spotting the organization’s name on the tag of a hat he bought in Scotland.
The non-profit organization operates in a host of developing nations and teaches disadvantaged kids about health and safety, and also provides assistance with operating a small business.
"These street children, they’re trying to support their families," Dennis said.
Here in Canada, he’s encountered less abject youth poverty than elsewhere in the world, but has nonetheless tried to engage marginalized kids, particularly at fundraising skateboarding events in Prince George and Smithers.
Kenny Thomas, 14, is riding shotgun on this leg of the trip, known as the Rambling Rat project since it was launched in 2008, the Year of the Rat, and is acting as Dennis’s "youth representative."
Thomas said he was kicked out of school in Smithers and isn’t sure if he’ll go back. In the meantime, with his parents’ blessing, he’s on the adventure of his life.
It was his idea to appeal to kids through skateboarding.
"Usually it’s the skateboarders that are the troubled youth," Thomas said.
Dennis said he was told the city here is unable to staff any kind of permanent skateboard project for kids who can’t afford the gear, despite having an offer from a local shop to donate some equipment.
"I’d like to bring it to the attention of the town: there is not a lot (in Penticton) for disadvantaged youth," he added.
Street Kids International communications co-ordinator Chris Mejaski said his organization is thrilled with Dennis’s efforts so far at bringing its work to new audiences
The 20-year-old organization has programs in more than 60 countries and focuses on helping kids in developing nations help themselves.
With the small-business program especially, "they’re able to draw on their own experience and skills to support themselves and elevate themselves within whatever situation they are," Mejaski explained.
For more information on Street Kids or the trek or to donate, visit www.ramblingrat.com. Top of Page
