Bike the Drive = Jihad to the 100th Power!

me & the girls, Saleha & Angie

What started out as a few #MyJihad volunteers signing up for the annual MB Financial Bike the Drive event (5 hours of Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive closed down to regular traffic and open to cyclists!) turned out to be so much more.

First, it was great to know that our $45 entrance fees were in support of bicycling in the Chicagoland area.  Next, we asked for supporters to sponser individual team members  to encourage donations to the #MyJihad campaign and new bus ads that are currently under development.

But then, Oklahoma was struck with a life shattering tornado.

#MyJihad then teamed up with ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America,) a leading grassroots organization focusing on self-development, education, outreach and social services since 1968. Their mission in Oklahoma?

We enjoyed a beautiful day on Lake Michigan

Depending on the needs in the affected area and of availability of resources, ICNA will provide the following services:

• Information and referrals to services needed to recover
• Debris removal
• Chain saw crews
• Muck out teams
• Tarping roofs
• Emotional, spiritual, and physical care
• Case Management

ICNA Relief has responded to 18 disasters within last two years and was declared New Yorker of the Week by NY1 for outstanding services in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey.

Teaming up with ICNA meant that we could shift gears in our Bike the Drive donation drive and focus 100% of the proceeds to support volunteers- on the ground- in Oklahoma- where they could make an immediate and positive impact in helping rebuild the lives of those shattered by catastrophe.

This made the Bike the Drive event shift from something fun to do- to something we had to do.  12 cyclists rode for 12 volunteers that are on the ground now in Oklahoma- making a difference.  (You can still donate at:  MyJihad.org.)

me with my favorite supporter, Bentley, “the recovered Islamophobe”

#MyJihad is a platform to be yourself.  So that is what we did today at Bike the Drive by:

• engaging in healthy activities
• promoting healthy activities in the area in which we live
• giving charity to those in need
• building team work through fun activities and making a difference as a group
• enjoying the outdoors and the city / country in which we live and supporting local causes
• introducing ourselves to people in our city and telling them about the #MyJihad campaign
• inspiring one another to continue righteous deeds which hopefully, inspires more and more people across this planet to join this cause

#MyJihad is to inspire others. What’s yours?

#MyJihad is about being yourself- not something an ill-minded headline wants to make you out to be.  Whether we are spreading the true meaning of the word jihad on university campuses, churches and organizations; or giving radio and TV interviews or TED talks- or riding our bikes down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago meeting new people and showing them true Muslim faces while bonus—- having the opportunity to perform one of the 5 pillars of Islam which is to give zakat (charity) to those in need- we are invoking the essence of the #MyJihad campaign.

This is what we do in Chicago- but this campaign doesn’t belong to this city or to the people here.

It belongs to you.

Wherever you are in the world.

The platform is here.  Please- help yourself.  Take it.  Download a media kit.  Educate people in  your community about the true meaning of jihad.  Get involved in your city’s local activities.  Introduce yourself to neighbors wearing a #MyJihad t-shirt.  Spread the word- but always do so by of course, simply being yourself.

Lake Michigan, bright & early

About the Author

About the Author: I'm a Writer, Speaker and Muslim Activist. I'm a former Board Member of the #MyJihad Public Education Campaign. Follow my blog at yasminareality.com or follow me on Twitter: @yasmina_reality. I'm also now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YasminaReality Peace! More from this author.