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Today Bikes for Kids Utah hosted successful 5K, 50K and 100K fundraising bike rides for nearly 260 cyclists at the same time the students pre-selected to receive brand new bikes participated in the bike safety expo. The rides supported Bikes for Kids Utah's mission to annually provide 1,000 underprivileged Utah second graders with free, brand new bicycles.
"The riders' enthusiasm for cycling and the kids excitement about their bikes made this a really fun day for everyone," said Debbie Reid, founder and executive director of Bikes for Kids Utah. "The international shipping crisis has delayed the bikes' arrival, but hasn't prevented us from celebrating the fact that Bikes for Kids Utah, with all its sponsor, rider and volunteer support, has succeeded again in getting 1,000 more Utah children on bikes."
The sunny weather made for overall pleasant conditions for the cyclists, students, school administrators, families and volunteers attending the safety expo.
In 45 minutes or less, more than 60 Family 5K riders of all ages completed a 2.5-mile loop through 4800 South. The Half-Century 50K took 70 riders on a 30-mile, 1.5-hour loop with a turnaround rest stop and a Café Rio meal at the finish line. The longest ride was the Metric Century 100K that took more than 120 riders 65 miles around the Salt Lake Valley, with four "Tour of Europe" rest stops.
Veronica Larvie of Salt Lake City had a great time riding the 50K course for the first time with her friend Monisha Pasupathi. "Today we rode by some places today that I have driven by, but never really seen, like residents' gardens," Larvie said. "This has been a great opportunity to ride for a good cause. My kids are nuts for their bikes because they started riding them early on."
Greeted by nearly 90 volunteers, students and their families walked from tent to tent participating in educational presentations about healthy nutrition by Committed Health and Fitness, helmet fittings and finally, a Bike Safety Rodeo where they learned about the bike rules of the road.
Godfrey Egburohe, father of Franklin Elementary School second grader Alma, appreciated this opportunity for his son to learn about bike safety. "This bike rodeo makes an impression on the kids more than a single parent can," Egburohe said. "This is going to let me let Alma ride more, knowing that he and his buddies know the different rules and signs."
Melissa Paramore, a Sandy Elementary School student, is excited to have her bike delivered to her school in a couple of weeks. "My brother has a bike and my friend has a bike, and I want one too so I can ride bikes with them."
Due to increased demand for cargo boats in the Pacific, the Bikes for Kids Utah branded bikes did not arrive in time for the giveaway. The bikes will be delivered to pre-selected students at their schools before the end of the academic year.
The next Bikes for Kids fundraising event will be the charity dinner and silent auction held Thursday, September 30 at La Caille Restaurant. More information about the time trial and auction will be available soon.
The Bikes for Kids Utah event is made possible through multiple individual and corporate sponsors who provide time, product and funds. Sponsors of this year's event included:
Title sponsors:
Alder Construction, Costco, Intermountain Financial and Mass Mutual.
Platinum sponsors:
Murray Rotary, Revolution Café Rio Racing and SOAR Communications.
Gold Sponsors:
BlackBottoms Cycle Wear, Elements Wilderness Program, La Caille, Skyline Electric Company and Utah Food Services.
Silver Sponsors:
Intermountain Healthcare, J.R. Smith Coaching, The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) and Healthy For Life.
Bronze Sponsors:
A-Core Concrete Cutting, Honey Bucket, Lights and Colors Inc., Waxie Sanitary Supply and Workflow One.
About Bikes for Kids Utah
Bikes for Kids Utah (bikesforkidsutah.com) is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 that provides bicycles for underprivileged children throughout the Salt Lake Valley. It generates support for its cause through its event registration proceeds, auctions, and private and corporate donations. Bikes for Kids' annual bicycle fundraising events, including casual road rides, timed road races and a dinner auction, raise money to provide 1,000 underprivileged children with new bicycles each year. For more information about the events, please visit the Bikes for Kids Utah website or call.
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