Right on the heels of the record-breaking Chilly Hilly presented Sunday by the Cascade Bicycle Club, I stumbled across news that a couple of charity rides in Central Washington have been canceled in 2010.
The biggest shock came from the Mike Utley Foundation, which was canceling its popular Dam2Dam bike tour in Wenatachee because of economic stresses.
On a somewhat better note, Group Health Wine Country Trek and Group Health Yakima Ridges bicycle tours in the Yakima area have been discontinued after 8 years because the events fulfilled their funding targets for a community skateboard park.
On a somewhat better note, the Group Health Yakima Ridges bicycle tour in Yakima has been discontinued after the event fulfilled its funding target for a new community skateboard park. Another bike ride offered by the Apple Valley Kiwanis, the Group Health Wine Country Trek, is still being presented. It's scheduled for Sept. 25-26 this year. (See comment below)
Dam2Dam
Over the years, the Dam2Dam ThumbsUp! Bike Tour has featured such well-known participants as Greg Lemond, above, who tested a ride on a recumbent bike.
The bike tour was created to raise funds for research and tools for those suffering spinal cord injuries. It was created by Utley, a former Detroit Lions football player who suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury in a game against the Rams in 1991. As he was being taken off the first, he managed a “thumbs up” signal to the crowd, hence the slogan for the ride.
Utley launched the bike tour about 7 years ago to raise money for spinal injury research and projects, as well as give those suffering from spinal cord injuries to participate in rides using handcycles. The tour rolled up the Columbia River from East Wenatchee.
Equipment
The money raised over the years went to terrain parks for those with spinal cord injuries, patient equipment not covered by insurance, scholarships and therapeutic recreational opportunities.
Although the bike tour remained strong, financially, the board of directors re-evaluated its position. As reported at the Mike Utley Foundation website:
“The Board of Director’s would need to consider the financial stress that would be placed on our Sponsors and Riders promoting a bike tour in 2010. During these difficult times the decision was to cancel the 2010 DAM2DAM “Thumbs Up!” Bike Tour. The Board of Directors will revisit the possibility of a 2011 bike tour if the economy improves over the next year.”
The foundation is currently raising funds through a special campaign in which participants can set up a donation page at the Utley Foundation website and collect funds for handcycles. More information at the website.
Both the Dam2Dam and the Wine Country Trek were scheduled in the fall; Yakima Ridges was a spring ride.
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