50 Mile Ride fund raiser scores another success
photos by Kennedy Photo Works
We?ve seen fire, and we?ve seen rain. But we?ve never seen anything like this before. On Saturday December 29, over 340 Orange County mountain bikers gathered together to ride, to celebrate, and to raise money for a good cause. The event ? the largest of its kind in Southern California - was the second annual ?50 Mile Ride for Project Rwanda?.
What started out a year ago as a 50 mile birthday ride for event co-founder Doug Grant, has turned into an event that riders of all ages look forward to. Last year?s ride attracted 240 riders and raised $30,000 for Project Rwanda. Organizers were determined to top those numbers in this year?s event. Thanks to tremendous sponsor and rider support, the second-annual event raised over $32,000 ? and more funds are still coming in. But the main goal was to have fun, and to channel a shared passion for mountain biking into a cause with a purpose. According to event co-founder Andy Brazelton, ?Support for this event was simply amazing. The enthusiasm of our volunteers was contagious ? even after 50 hard miles, our riders were still smiling.?
?Overcoming obstacles seemed to be the theme for this year?s planning?, said Doug Grant. ?Obstacles are fun and exciting on a mountain bike, but they can be a pain in the event planning process. For example, our recent wildfires - plus the on-again off-again rains - made it a challenge for our course directors to plan this year?s route.? But participants were unanimous in their praise for the course this year. Participant Bruce Bereiter shared ?It was an epic good time. The route was perfect and the support was outstanding. If you do it again, and I sure hope you do, I hope you don't change a thing.?
Riders and their families enjoyed a post-ride party at Cooks Corner, who again donated all proceeds from their BBQ to Project Rwanda. An opportunity drawing followed, with over $10,000 in raffle prizes ? including a grand prize Ellsworth ?Ride? gearless bike from Ellsworth and Mazda USA ? plus several prizes from virtually all of the local OC bike shops and bike industry companies. Other event sponsors included Arrowhead Water, Bonk Breakers, Motor Tabs, Squirt Lube, Panda Express, Geoladders, Sho-Air, and Dr Julie Malley of Trabuco Hills Chiropractic ? who all contributed to the event?s success. Riders and volunteers each received a commemorative event tee-shirt, generously donated by Hoss Technical Gear. In addition, the Warriors Society Communications/Support Team donated time and resources that contributed to the success and safety of the event.
Project Rwanda was founded by Tom Ritchey, a bike designer and a pioneer in the mountain biking industry. Still an avid mountain biker, Tom participated in the 50 Mile Ride again this year ? and finished among the lead pack of riders. According to Ritchey, Project Rwanda aims to help those who are continuing to rebuild their lives following the genocide of 1994. Bicycles are the main mode of transportation and utility in Rwanda, but due to the country's land-locked infrastructure, they are very expensive for most people. Ritchey has designed durable load-bearing bicycles that are being distributed to individual coffee growers through a unique micro-enterprise venture. One of the benefits of having a specially designed ?Coffee Bike" for coffee farmers is the impact on their income potential. A Rwandan farmer gets paid more of a premium if they deliver fresher coffee cherries to the washing station. These specialty bikes could increase a coffee farmer's earning potential by 30 - 40 percent annually, which benefits everyone in the community. There are 2000 Coffee Bikes currently being tested in Rwanda, with the goal of one day seeing several hundred thousand of these bikes in use, helping Rwandans in their fight to overcome poverty, hunger, and disease. In addition, Project Rwanda has been working to ?re-brand? Rwanda through cycling tours of the country, and by developing the first-ever Rwandan National Cycling Team. This talented team of young Rwandan cyclists has already gathered international attention, and is rapidly becoming a source of national pride for Rwanda.
Participants got to see first-hand one of the Project Rwanda Coffee Bikes. Jacob Seigel-Boettner, a Project Rwanda supporter from Santa Barbara, actually rode a Coffee Bike in the 25 mile route at the event (although he didn?t have it loaded with bags of coffee at the time). The local mountain bike community has certainly embraced this effort, and organizers plan to make the 50 Mile Ride an annual event. If you would like more information about the 50 Mile Ride or about Project Rwanda, contact Doug Grant at dgrant@wagraphics.com.
