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Pick Your Passion and Cycle For It!

By Meghan McCausland and Darren Dencklau

Many people around the Northwest are putting their passion for cycling to use, riding for more than just personal health and enjoyment. Charity rides are a rampant part of touring and this summer offers an array of events to choose from.

In Washington, Women Against Violence Everywhere (WAVE) is pedaling for women’s empowerment on September 20, 2009, in Issaquah. Aiming to increase awareness about domestic violence, “Cycle the Wave” is a women’s-only event, raising money for the Eastside Domestic Violence Program (EDVP), whose main goal is to, “provide services to people, primarily women and children, who have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse.” Statistics show that in 2000 there were 4,999 reported domestic violence incidents in King County alone; that number doesn’t include unknown or unreported incidents.

Ride director Sharon Anderson describes that the event is mainly about finding balance and educating women and stated, “So many of the women don’t even realize that they’re being abused.” Clinics will be held prior to the ride when volunteers will inform women about domestic abuse. Also, WAVE is placing educational signs on the 25-mile “Girly-Girl” route in Bellevue to further raise awareness to both bikers and curious motorists who use the busy corridor.

The ride begins and ends in Tibbetts Valley Park. There’s a 40-mile “Middle Sister” and a 62-mile “Burly Girl” route in addition to the 25-mile “Girly Girl” distance for those who are excited to be a part of the event but are more moderate riders. Find out more at cyclethewave.com.

Photo by Laura Elfline

Another “Evergreen State” charity event is the Get Your Guts in Gear Ride (GYGIG). Contrary to what its name may imply, GYGIG does not furnish participants with rock-hard abs — instead, this August 7-9 ride focuses on the potentially debilitating intestinal diseases of Crohn’s and Colitis. Both diseases have similar conditions marked by chronic inflammation of the bowels, a common side effect being ulcers and severe pain in the gastrointestinal tract (ccfa.org).

“Patients and caregivers are able to come together and share experiences,” states Washington ride organizer, Karen Harris. The organization also promotes events in New York (June 12-14) and Wisconsin (October 2-4). The ride aims to create awareness about the diseases as well as build up a network of support for patients. Since most of the participants are affected by one of the diseases, the ride crew offers assistance, making it possible for many to complete what may have otherwise been an impossible 210-mile bike journey.

Photo by Laura Elfline

Happy GYGIG participants.

“We have rest-stops every 12-15 miles and we always have doctors and nurses riding or crewing,” Harris explains. Additionally, the meals are catered to each participant’s condition.

The proceeds go to various beneficiaries, including the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. The money is given directly back to the cause by way of advocacy and awareness, insurance for chronic patients, and research for a cure. Each rider must raise $1,800 to participate.

The picturesque GYGIG ride begins and ends in Edmonds and loops around Whidbey Island and the Skagit Valley. For specifics visit gygig.org.

Washington is not the only state with big-hearted bikers. This summer, Oregon once again hosts the Tour des Chutes ride in support of cancer survivors. The goal is to increase awareness about the emotional aftershocks of cancer and to raise money to sponsor programs that help those affected by the disease.

Brain cancer survivor and ride founder Gary Bonacker stated, “I decided I needed a focus once I was done with treatment.” He began the ride in 2005 in order to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the St. Charles Cancer Survivorship Program at the St. Charles Medical Center in Bend. The programs are meant to, “help hold [patients’] hands and give emotional support during and after chemotherapy,” proclaims Bonacker.

Cycling, and eating, for a cause.

The ride’s motto is, “Ride for yourself. Ride for someone you love.”

Bonacker observes that many cyclists attach tags to their bikes and write the name of a loved one whom they are riding for, or add a tag for themselves. “That day is one of my favorite days of the year.”

“Cancer touches so many of us. The event is meant to draw the community together and help make it a bigger cause,” exclaims Cindy Lewellen, a representative of Tour de Chutes.

Cyclists will start from Bend on a trek of hope on July 18, 2009. The ride has multiple routes options of 7-, 25-, 48-, 70- and 100-miles. For more information go to

www.tourdeschutes.org.

Later in the season, Community Vision organizes the Harvest Century road ride. The non-profit organization helps adults with developmental disabilities find homes, employment and live relatively independent lives. Their goal is to provide individualized assistance so that people with disabilities can, “live productively with dignity and greater self-determination.”

Rebecca Miller, Community Vision’s development director, explained that for developmentally disabled adults, riding a bike is an important form of freedom and independence. With a bike, people are able to go to work or to the store instead of relying on a friend to drive them. Therefore it is fitting that the non-profit hosts a ride in support of cycling, their programs and social connections within the community.

The event includes both volunteers and participants from the Community Vision program and proceeds go to the non-profit. Starting from the Washington County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro on October 10, riders can choose from a family friendly 2.5-mile ride or 45-, 75-, and 100-mile routes. To learn more about on the event and Community Vision visit www.harvestcentury.org or www.cvision.org.

In Idaho, residents also participate in cycling for a purpose, this time in support of the area’s multi-purpose trails. Blue Cruise of Idaho is a Blue Cross-sponsored event, which offers four separate rides; the first two were held in May and June while August features rides in Pocatello and Coeur d’Alene.

Blue Cross’s dedication to health and wellness spreads to the community through these organized rides. Not only do they promote individual health through cycling, but also long-term society health via the development of more multi-purpose trails. Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong joins each of the four tours in support of the non-profit.

The Pocatello ride on August 8, 2009, offers 15-, 30- and 50-mile routes and benefits the Portneuf Greenway Foundation, an organization dedicated to the development of the greenway. The Foundation believes, “By enhancing the quality of life for Pocatello’s citizens and visitors, we promote economic growth and help create a more attractive and vibrant community.” The greenway boasts a place for visitors and residents to exercise and enjoy being outdoors as well as “an alternative non-motorized transportation route.”

The August 15, 2009 ride in Coeur d’Alene supports the North Idaho Centennial Trail System — a 24-mile stretch of recreational path that was designated as a Millennium Trail by Hillary Clinton in 1999 (North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation). There will be 15-, 30- and 62-mile options. For more information see bluecruiseidaho.com.

On August 22-23, in McCall, Idaho, the Northwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) will present the Road, Sweat and Gears Ride in support of those affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The NMSS is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS. They simultaneously fund research for a cure while also helping people who currently live with MS lead more fulfilling lives.

The disease affects the body’s immune system, creating a serious condition, which still has no known cure. Road, Sweat and Gears raises money and awareness and about 60% of the funds benefit the Northwest Chapter and the other 40% goes to the National Chapter for research.

Locally, the money is used to help those directly affected by the disease by means of “providing families with activities, advocacy and equipment loans, such as air conditioning and cooling vests,” states Chris Poletto. She explains that the heat of Idaho summers takes its toll on patients with MS and the cooling vests help ease their discomfort. A portion of the proceeds also goes towards educational material, conferences and seminars.

Participants must raise $250 each for the ride, which offers a route suitable for everyone, including a 20-, 25-, 40-, 50- and 60-mile option. For more details look up bikems.org.

Moving up to the vast province of British Columbia, cyclists are also riding to support a cause. In the greater Vancouver area, the Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) Ride – Cops for Cancer Tour de Coast – elicits local police officers, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, emergency services personnel and military police to ride for pediatric cancer research.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death for children in Canada. Many pediatric patients struggle with not only the debilitating issues of cancer and chemotherapy, but the effects of hair loss and “being different.”

On the 10–12-day ride, participants stop in communities and join in activities such as publicly shaving their heads to illustrate the normality of being bald and spreading awareness not only to children, but adults as well. The proceeds go towards research and also helps with programs such as B.C.’s Camp Goodtimes, a free camp for children living with cancer. The ride is September 23 – October 1, 2009, and although it is strictly for Canadian law enforcement and emergency personnel, the general public also donates to the cause by supporting riders and volunteering their time. To find out more visit copsforcancer.ca.

Rides that support causes have been around for a long time and on September 12-13, the 25th Anniversary of the B.C. Lung Association’s Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath will take place. The event has collectively raised more than $4 million over the past 25 years it has been around.

“Clean air has become a huge deal because air pollution is causing increased asthma and lung disease,” states B.C. Lung Association’s Marissa Waghorn. The event promotes tobacco education, tobacco cessation programs and clean air initiatives. Lung research is also an important part of the Trek’s cause, as it helps medical specialists understand the causes of lung disease and potentially discovering problems that are connected to

the environment.

This two-day, 200km ride takes cyclists from White Rock to Cultus Lake and back. Each rider must raise $425 prior to the event. For more details go to bc.lung.ca.

More and more people throughout the Northwest are combining their passion for cycling with their desire to help their communities by supporting rides for a cause, making it a win-win situation for everyone. So if you want to be involved, get out there this summer and join an event. If local rides are not enough, visit tourdethailand.com and alynride.org for information on several international charity tours.

Written by Meghan McCausland and Darren Dencklau