By Michelle Butterfield
Calgary Herald, August 18, 2008
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/city/story.html?id=48809791-84f3-4c5a-bc19-e1abad30c9f3
David Kay is cycling solo across the Canada, committed to raising awareness of human rights violations in China and Tibet.
The former Team Canada rower, and Pan American Games medalist, was greeted by more than 30 members of Calgary's Chinese community at Olympic Plaza Sunday morning.
Kay is entering the last leg of his trip across the country, which began more than a month ago in St. John's, Newfoundland.
"I think no country has a clean slate when it comes to human rights, but we need to take every opportunity we can to pressure and lobby for positive change," he said of his decision to cycle in what he has dubbed the Ride for Rights.
Each leg of the race is dedicated to various people who have suffered human rights violations under the Chinese communist regime.
As he rode to Calgary he pedaled in honour of a woman who was sentenced to 12 years in Chinese jail for downloading and distributing information about a banned spiritual practice, Falun Gong.
Her husband, Wenyu Liu, fled China and has lived in Calgary since 2005.
Kay will continue on his journey, arriving in Victoria during the final week of the Games.