Girl wins dream bike

MANY people believe that God works in mysterious ways and Popondetta-based Angelica Baruga and her mum are no different.
Her dad had just been posted to the Northern capital after completing his studies at law school.
And it was there that he had promised to buy Angelica a bicycle on his first payday.
But little did she and know that her whole world would come crashing down on the eve of her birthday.
“Just a few days into the job, he fell sick and left us a day before his first payday and a few days before Angelica’s birthday,” said her mum Amelia, a secondary school teacher from Popondetta. “Angelica’s dad promised to buy her a bicycle on his first payday but he passed away.”
It was just as devastating for Amelia who took out bank loans to pay for her husband’s school fees.
“One day, we were shopping at Papindo and she saw a promotional bicycle and she said ‘my dad is not her to buy me a bicycle’,” the mum-of-three said.
“This broke my heart and we immediately left the shop.”
But as fate would have it, things quickly changed for the better.
A few days later, the in-store promotional draw was made by Paradise Foods Ltd subsidiary Laga Industries and Angelica won the bicycle.
A few weeks later, the story behind her win inspired Paradise Foods to send her to Lae for the Rosso Cup Mountain Bike Challenge.
“God is good and he works in mysterious ways,” Amelia said.
“It’s a blessing to travel to Lae and be part of this great event.”
She thanked Paradise Foods chief executive James Rice, Lae City Authority chief executive Neil Ellery and Lae MP John Rosso for supporting her, Angelica and her cousin for the trip. “It’s our first time to meet Rosso and seeing the changes Lae has gone through in just under three years is overwhelming with a humble and hardworking leader at helm,” Amelia said.
Rosso said he was grateful to have them in Lae for the event.
“The Rosso Cup is a family event and to have visitors from other provinces here is a great opportunity to promote our city and community spirit,” he said.
“It also strengthens our vision and mission for a better Lae.”
Lae is looking to hosting bigger and better bike challenges in the future.