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Fundraiser aims to send inline hockey equipment to communities in Africa

KRPS | By Raegan Neufeld
Published June 27, 2025 at 6:57 AM CDT
Eric Baldwin

Eric Baldwin and Clementine Ruel are on a journey across the country, but not in the way people usually take summer trips. Baldwin is on rollerblades while Ruel is on a cargo bike packed with supplies, and they’re raising money to help grow the sport of inline hockey in Namibia.

After playing inline hockey professionally in Spain, Baldwin was put in touch with an organization in the African country of Namibia by a teammate who had coached there. Baldwin then spent time there as a coach as well, and found that while there is interest in the sport, some do not have the money to sustain it.

Now on their trip across the country, Baldwin and Ruel will use the donations they receive to buy and send equipment to places in Namibia, as well as Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

Baldwin and Ruel started in Yorktown, Virginia, on the Adventure Cycling Association’s TransAmerica Trail, passed through southern Missouri and are now in Kansas, just over halfway done. They’re diverting from the trail so they can end in San Diego, California, where Baldwin is from.

Donations can be made on GoFundMe. Baldwin and Ruel are documenting their trip on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

Copyright 2025 KRPS. To see more, visit Four States Public Radio.
Kansas News
Raegan Neufeld
Raegan Neufeld is a host and reporter for KRPS. Her love for learning and connecting with interesting people led her to a career in journalism, where she aims to tell impactful stories. Originally from south central Kansas, Raegan attended Fort Hays State University and graduated in December 2024.
See stories by Raegan Neufeld