It’s back, and organizers are hoping it is bigger and better.
Harvey Thomson came to the Centre Wellington committee of the whole on April 16 to outline plans for this year’s benefit bicycle ride for the local food bank.
Thomson said this year organizers are hoping to raise money so the food bank can use its community kitchen to prepare local food for its clients. He said it would be vacuum sealed and “provide healthy food for them.”
Thomson said a healthier diet for people gives them better health in general. Last year, the ride raised $7,500 and “we hope to do better this year.”
Last year, hundreds of cyclists rode 75km or 35km even as a training event where they raise funds. He said that a lot of the riders are high performance cyclists and many came from out of town – which is a benefit to the community.
This year, the ride will include a shorter event for non competitors and families who wants a leisurely cycle. That ride is 20km and runs to the Shand dam and back on local trails. The ride will start this year from the Elora Public School on Mill Street East instead of last year’s take-off point at Centre Wellington District High School in Fergus. Lunch will be served at the finish, around 12:30pm.
Registration begins at 8am on May 27. Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj will greet participants and officially kick off the event.
Thomson told council that public works director Ken Elder has been most helpful advising the group about setting up the event on county and township roads, and, to date, organizers have found no need to close any roads.
Council heard the delegation and wished Thomson good luck with the event.
