
The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society began running Bike Rides to support the work of Nazareth Hospital in 1992. In 2001, the Society became two separate charities, EMMS International and EMMS Nazareth.
EMMS International continued to develop bike rides and treks, which included an annual bike ride in support of its sister organisation. This wonderful sign of ongoing close relations has been invaluable to Nazareth, as until 2007, EMMS Nazareth had no presence of its own in the United Kingdom.
November 2009 saw the final EMMS International Bike Ride in support of Nazareth Hospital.
The Israel and Jordan bike rides have raised substantial sums in support of the Nazareth Hospital and School of Nursing. They have made a significant difference to the work in Nazareth. A grand total of £340,000 has been raised since EMMS became two separate sister charities.
Times have moved on, and Nazareth now has its own Head Office in the UK – and indeed a new operating name of ‘The Nazareth Trust’. The trustees of the Nazareth Trust have decided that they now wish to run their own bike ride in the Galilee in 2010, which will be part fundraising challenge, part wheeled pilgrimage.
EMMS International will therefore focus their bike rides and treks on supporting their partners in Malawi, India and Nepal. Both charities will continue to seek to work in partnership going forward.
All of us at the Nazareth Trust would like to offer our very warmest thanks and appreciation to EMMS International for their support since 2001, and both charities wish each other every success with their respective events in the future.