Chris Lomen Is “Rolling to Rebuild” Schools in Haiti

July 12, 2010 marked the six-month anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. And while some have checked Haiti off their list of concerns, one individual has found a unique way to remind fellow Americans that the crisis is not over.

The 22-year-old St. Olaf graduate began his philanthropic trek in Stillwater, Minn., on June 29, 2010. His goal is to rollerblade 4,200 miles – from Minnesota to Maine, then south to Key West, Fla. – and raise $100,000 for the Haitian education and nutrition programs of Outreach International.

If he succeeds, Chris Lomen's trek could set a new world record – but that's not what's motivating him to skate 40-50 miles a day for the next three months. 

"I really feel called to make a difference in Haiti. Education — getting the schools reopened — is the number one priority for setting up the long-term success and vitality of Haiti," Lomen said in a recent interview. "I'm absolutely passionate about this cause, and I think it's the most important thing I've ever done. Rollerblading is simply a means to making this happen."
 
And Chris is definitely making things happen. Already, his story has been picked up by The Huffington Post, CNN, and network TV stations across the country. Occasionally, however, he meets someone along the way who responds with indifference. Just the other day, someone told Chris, "We raised money for Haiti months ago, so we don't really have a reason to help you." Blogging on his website, www.rollingtorebuild.com, Chris offered a spirited reply:

"It's as if they have a quota they have to fill of helping people, and once they do, they don't have to help anyone! Last time I checked, the conditions in Haiti are still pretty hellish. The work is not done! Packing meals and donating to the Red Cross and similar charities is great. It's vital and important to the survival of people in need. But the work doesn't end there. We're trying to set our sights on improving the future. What's the point of being alive if you have no future and no hope for improvement? That's what we're after. Hope and a future."

Outreach International, an Independence, Missouri-based charity founded in 1979, is a leading provider of schools in Haiti. Prior to the earthquake, more than 9,000 students attended one of 90 schools. But the January quake that killed nearly a quarter million people also leveled 20 of the program's schools. Today, surviving students are meeting under makeshift tents. But over the next three years, Outreach International and partnering organizations, including Article 25, will be building green and disaster-resistant schools. In addition, Outreach International will introduce its flagship program of sustainable development to help entire communities find and fight the root causes of poverty.

Matthew Naylor, president of Outreach International, recently reported that the three-year commitment will cost more than $7 million, a stretch for the $3 million organization. "Thankfully, generous and passionate individuals like Chris Lomen are stepping forward, motivated by the chance to make a tangible difference," Naylor said. "With their support, and the spirit and commitment of the Haitian people we serve, we will get kids back to school, we will rebuild community, and we rebuild Haiti."