Marin Independent Journal (CA)

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Mill Valley bike coach peddling to help Pakistan school
By Jim Staats

Mill Valley resident Herb Bool will combine his twin passions of biking and teaching next month for a good cause.

Bool, 45, a middle school teacher at San Francisco Day School who coaches the Tamalpais High School mountain bike team, hopes to raise $50,000 for a new school in Pakistan by riding his bike for a day in the "24 Hours in the Old Pueblo" endurance race Feb. 16 in Arizona.

"I was sort of toying with the idea of doing a 24-hour race," Bool said.

His plan was hatched after reading the best-seller "Three Cups of Tea" last summer. The book follows Berkeley nurse Greg Mortenson's near-fatal climbing accident on the mountain known as K2 and rescue by Pakistani villagers.

Mortenson vowed to the villagers who saved his life to come back and build a school for them. He and the Central Asian Institute he founded have helped build 61 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Laura Andersen, database manager with the Montana-based nonprofit, said the book has inspired many people to help, but added Bool has a unique fund-raising plan.

"It's amazing that he could go try to bike that long," she said. "Most of our support does come from individuals like that."

Bool, who has raised more than $20,000 to date, said he is one

of the few planning to ride as a solo competitor using a single-speed bike. Last year's winner in the solo class rode 240 miles on the 14-mile single track loop course near Tucson.

HOW TO HELP

Donors may send checks payable to 'Central Asia Institute' to Herb Bool, San Francisco Day School, 350 Masonic Ave., San Francisco, CA 94118.

For more information, call 415-246-7405 or visit sfoneworld.blogspot.com

http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_8096792