23 October 2017 – It’s time for ‘Stride the Divide again in Melbourne – a growing movement kick-started when Chris Bailey trekked 4,300 km from Mexico to Canada last year to raise over $120,000 to help families in India lift themselves out of poverty.

Join Federal Member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar MP and hundreds of Aussies as they ‘Stride the Divide’ to collectively walk 4,300km on Sunday 29 October. They’ll raise funds to help Opportunity International Australia give small loans to families in developing countries so they can build businesses and break the cycle of poverty.

Robert Dunn, Opportunity Global Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, encourages Aussies to put on their walking boots and get ready for the walk. “It’ll be great!” he says. “Last year, it was inspiring to see so many Melburnians come together with the common goal to raise funds to help families living in poverty. It looks as if even more will be participating in it this year.

“I’d like to thank everyone involved in the event. You are making an immense difference to the lives of hundreds of families in developing countries,” he added.

Andy Philp, Chief Operating Officer at Elephant & Co and Opportunity Ambassador, who is organising the event, says: “At the heart of ‘Stride the Divide’ is an amazing organisation – Opportunity International Australia. Opportunity captures its supporters’ imaginations because of the very smart way it helps families free themselves from poverty – all through the power of small loans to build income-generating businesses.

“It’s exciting to see Chris Bailey’s vision captured by dozens of schools this year. A growing number of schools are learning about microfinance by taking the Opportunity Challenge, which involves schools setting up small businesses, finding innovative ways to create products and services, selling these for profit and making valuable donations to Opportunity. Many of the children who participated in the Opportunity Challenge are walking in ‘Stride the Divide’.”

If you would like to join Michael Sukkar MP as well as hundreds of school children and Opportunity supporters in ‘Stride the Divide’, click here.