Special Olympics Charity Bike Tour raises funds, provides good time
Sleeping in on a Saturday? Not an option.
At least not for those involved in helping fund the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics Charity Bike Tour was held Saturday morning. Although the day was sunny and clear the temperature was just around 30 degrees.
The cold weather did not stop more than 40 bicyclists from arriving at USU Romney Stadium, paying their $15 registration fee and riding 17 miles for a good cause.
Emily Gerratt, a senior majoring in horticulture, was involved in the development of the project. She said the course began at Romney Stadium and went through Hyde Park and Smithfield. Halfway through the course the riders could stop at the Smithfield McDonald’s for a free ice cream cone. The tour ended back at the stadium.
The idea was developed at the beginning of this semester by a management and human resources class. James Hayton, the instructor for MHR 3100 class had his students create a project to benefit the community.
“We met once a week during the course,” Gerratt said. “The class divided into groups of 10 people, our group came up with the bike tour idea.”
There were different committees in charge of different things with the tour. Advertising, registration, designing the course and getting sponsors were all tasks the committees undertook. The bike tour received a lot of support from the local businesses, Gerratt said.
“We had donations and gift certificates from Sunrise Cyclery, Al’s Cyclery, Trailhead, Café Sabor, The Coppermill, The Blue Bird, and McDonald’s,” Gerratt said.
She said she had great expectations for the tour. A raffle was held and the bikers were given prizes from the different businesses.
Gerratt said she feels good about the event. She said it would be successful because they have put a lot of work into it.
A special guest appeared at the event. Cache Valley resident Breant Carpenter, who has spent hours on the road as he rides the streets of Cache Valley on his bicycle, received applause and cheers as he rode into the parking lot at the stadium to begin the course.
The abilities of the tour participants ranged from beginner to advanced. In one instance the abilities of father and daughter were joined together as they rode the 17 miles together on a tandem bicycle. John Jensen and his daughter Whitney have ridden together on a tandem since Whitney was 5 or 6 years old, said the elder Jensen.
This father and daughter combination said they like riding together, especially when it is for a good cause.
“It gives us a good opportunity just to talk,” Jensen said. “We eat skittles and just enjoy being together.”
Other friend duos took part in the tour as well. Dennis Watkins and Reed Toolson rode the course together. They are neighbors who ride together for many benefit tours.
“We rode the MS [Multiple Sclerosis] ride together. This was 150 miles long,” Watkins said. “It is for a good cause, we enjoy helping out the community.”
After the ride, the two bikers said they felt good about the race. They said they didn’t have a problem and they would go for another 17 miles if they had to.
Toolson said it was a nice course and for a good cause.
“It took us only 1 hour,” Toolson said. “We would do it anytime to help people with the Special Olympics.”
During the pre-ride registration period, $500 was presented to Abe Tanner and Joli Johnson, director and assistant director for USU Special Olympics.
The funds made from this event will go directly to the local Special Olympics Spring Invitational, Tanner said.
“The funds are much needed this time of year,” Tanner said. “They will be used for food and equipment for up to 200 athletes.”
Tanner said the games will be held on April 26, and volunteers for the games are still needed.
“It is a great experience, the Special Olympic athletes are the purest athletes on the planet,” he said. “It will be rewarding to everyone.”
–syllee@cc.usu.edu
John Jensen and his daughter, Whitney, ride tandem in the Special Olympics Bike Tour.
14-year-old Merlin Broadbent of Hyrum bikes along the road during Saturday´s bike tour.
Brent Carpenter participates in the Special Olympics Charity Bike Tour on Saturday. (Photos by John Zsiray)