(Update: March 19, 2008: Ed McLaughlin is home from the hospital with limited use of arms and legs. See Chico Enterprise.) The Chico Velo bicycle club is launching a very worthwhile fund-raiser bike ride later this month to support local bicyclists who have suffered injuries while bicycling.
The first beneficiary of Tour de Ed is Ed McLaughlin, a longtime bicycle advocate and cycling coordinator for the Northern California club. He did a header over his handlebars when he hit a bike-path pole on a group ride in December and damaged his spinal cord. He's only regained the use of an arm.
The bike ride features two options of six and 20 miles, either through Bidwell Park or among the blossoming almond orchards on rural roads.
Community support
McLaughlin has received an outpouring of community support since his Dec. 21 accident. More than 200 people showed up for a celebration in his honor on Christmas Eve and poster-signings have been taking place around town where money is being raised.
He's getting physical therapy at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where he'll undergo an operation on his neck sometime in the coming weeks.
Some of the expenses the bike ride seeks to cover include a wheelchair and modifications that need to be made to his home for better access, such as a wheelchair ramp.
See the Ed McLaughlin update page at the Chico Velo website.
Because the club would like all the money raised to go toward the fund, Chico Velo is seeking sponsors to pay for wristbands and other ride expenses.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. at the Chico City Hall parking lot, on 5th between Main and Wall streets. The ride starts at 10 a.m. sharp. Cyclists are invited to visit and get some breakfast before the start.
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