Charity rides combine exercise, good will

May 08, 2009

Burlington Free Press
Lauren Ober

Somewhere in between casual bike path cruising and road race hammering lies the middle ground of cycling — the charity bike ride.

Charity bike rides are ubiquitous in Vermont. At last count, there were 20 such events in the state benefiting a range of charities such as Vermont CARES, the Kellogg Hubbard Library and North Country Animal League. The rides offer mileage and terrain for every kind of cyclist.

First up: The Lund Family Center Mother’s Day Ride, which happens Sunday, is one of two newcomers to the circuit. Organizer Denise Vignoe said despite it being a new event, the Lund Family Center ride has already attracted 150 people.

Vignoe, who is on the center’s development board, comes to the ride with event planning experience. For years she helped organize the Vermont City Marathon and knows what it takes to make a successful event.

Part of what makes an event successful is understanding what people want. Vignoe understands that people want a way to give back to their community and also take part in outdoor activities and a charity bike ride is the perfect marriage of the two.

“All of us here in Vermont want to use this great outdoor venue we have,” Vignoe said.

Kitty Bartlett, annual giving coordinator for Lund Family Center said the organization settled on a bike ride as a way to raise money because it was a family-friendly activity. The event features a family ride on the Burlington bike path, a 30-mile ride and a 55-mile ride. They set an ambitious fundraising goal of $50,000 and Bartlett said they are likely to reach it.

“We were looking to engage different groups of people and this seemed like a fun way to bring people together,” Bartlett said.

Another ride new to the circuit is the Spectrum Youth and Family Center Ride. The June 28 event is organized by board of directors president and avid cyclist David White and features 10k, 25k, 50k and 100k options.

White has been involved with charity cycling for many years. His team for the now defunct Tour de Cure were the top fundraisers for a number of years and when the American Diabetes Association canceled its Vermont ride, White wanted a ride to be involved with.

“In my mind, that opened the door for me to take on a cycling event like this,” White said.

White is trying to rally some of his old Tour de Cure teammates to direct their fundraising prowess toward Spectrum. White is hoping that the Spectrum ride resonates with enough people who either feel passionate about the nonprofit’s mission or who feel passionate about raising money and love to cycle.

“For some people, it’s about the cause. They have a personal or family connection,” White said. “For others it’s a culture that says we’re so privileged, it’s a wonderful thing to give back.”

Area charity bike rides:

Sunday

• Lund Family Center Mother’s Day Ride benefiting Lund Family Center, Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington. 55 mile ride starts at 8 a.m., 30 mile ride at 9. Family ride, too. Register at event starting at 7 a.m. or online at www.lundfamilycenter.org/ride.html

June 6-7• Tour de Kingdom benefiting Indoor Recreation of Orleans County Healthy Changes Initiative, many routes through the Northeast Kingdom over two days. Registration on or before May 21 is $25 for adults with a minimum pledge of $25 for each day of the ride. After that, it’s $50. Register online at www.tourdekingdom.org

June 13
• Champ Ride benefiting Vermont CARES, rides begin and end at Kingsland Bay State Park, Ferrisburgh. 12, 25, 50, 70 and 100 mile rides that depart between 7-10 a.m.
Register at www.vtcares.org

June 21
• Great Rivers Century ride benefiting Windsor County Youth Services, 25, 50, 80, 100 miles. The rides start at the Cavendish Grade School in Proctorsville. Cost is $25 before June 8, $30 thereafter.
228-2722

June 28
Spectrum Ride benefiting Spectrum Youth and Family Center, Dorset Park, distances for families and cyclists: 10K, 25K, 50K, 100K. www.spectrumvt.org • Tour de Book benefiting Windham County Reads Bookmobile www.windhamcountyreads.org

July 10-11
• Prouty Ultimate benefiting the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Double century ride plus 25, 50, 100 mile rides, begins and ends at the Richmond Middle School, Hanover, N.H.
www.theproutyultimate.org

Aug. 1
Gear Up for Lyme Mt. Equinox Uphill Bike Climb benefiting the Lyme Disease Association, www.gearupforlyme.com

Aug. 1-2
• Vermont Lakes Region Cycling Weekend benefiting the Poultney Food Shelf www.cyclingvermont.org

Aug. 8-9
• Green Mountain Getaway MS 150 Bike Tour benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society www.msvermont.org

Aug. 11-15
• Burlington to Portland (Maine) AIDS Vaccine Bike Trek benefiting Emory Vaccine Center and UCLA AIDS Institute www.charitytreks.org

Aug. 15
• Harpoon Point to Point Ride benefiting the Vermont Foodbank. Three routes: 110 Miles (Williston to Windsor); 50 Miles (Bethel to Windsor); 25 Mile (out and back loop from the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor)
www.harpoonbrewery.com

Aug. 22
• Pedal for Paws benefiting North Country Animal League, Stowe www.ncal.com

Aug. 29
• Mad River Valley Century Ride benefiting Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports www.mrvcenturyride.com

Sept. 12
• Kelly Brush Century Ride benefiting the Kelly Brush Foundation www.kellybrushfoundation.org

Sept. 19
• Terry & Ben Claassen Memorial Northeast Kingdom Lakes Century Bike Tour benefiting Orleans County Citizen Advocacy http://pages.interlog.com/~jedward/century.html

Sept. 20
• Le Tour de Farms benefiting Vermont Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition www.vtbikeped.org

Sept. 27
• Vermont 50-Mile Mountain Bike Ride benefiting Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports www.vermont50.com

Oct. 3
• Cochran 100 Bike Ride benefiting Cochran’s Ski Area www.cochranskiarea.com

May 08, 2009

Press Room