Get on your bike and ride

Since June 5, I’ve been working hard to get back on the road and ready for the next charity bike ride. The problem is, I’ve got a bit of post-trauma bikecrash- stress going on and the next fundraiser is rapidly approaching. At this point, I’m afraid to say, I’ve been able to make more excuses for not riding than you can imagine. The only times I’ve been out on the bicycle have been with my coach, LOML, and I think he might be getting a bit frustrated running interference for me. LOML tells me I’ll likely be ready for the Colour Cribbage Ride, but I’ll have to get out more often. I hope he’s right. But, while this column is usually all about me, and why wouldn’t it be, this time it’s all about the upcoming Picton Kiwanis Club Colour Cribbage Ride.

This year’s ride takes place on October 1st and will start and finish at the Picton Curling Club on East Main Street in the fairgrounds. The cost per adult entrant is 50 bucks at the event or $40 if you pay now. There really isn’t any fundraising involved or expected from the participants, but I figure if you can hit up your friends for a few dollars per kilometre the Kiwanis won’t say “no thanks.” The ride is a bargain by today’s standards. You pay the fifty bucks and cycle either the 50 or 100-kilometre ride. Now, to be perfectly honest, the 50- kilometre ride is really closer to 60 kilometres long, but let’s not quibble about 10- kilometres. Look at it like it’s bonus “miles.” Fifty bucks gets you 60 clicks or 50 bucks gets you 100 clicks. It’s a steal and on top of that, participants also get lunch and a “sway bag of local produce” when they finish. Now if that’s not classy, I sure as heck don’t know what is. Where the H E double tire levers else will you go home with a honking big bag of apples, squash, potatoes and zucchinis after a fundraiser? I hesitate to say, “Only in the County”.

The real bargain is, this event more than a great day of cycling in the County. Every cent raised will stay right here in the County and be used to support the close to 20 youth-focused, community programs. One of my favourite Kiwanis sponsored programs is Terrific Kids. How many hundreds of Thoughtful, Enthusiastic, Respectful, Responsible, Inclusive, Friendly, Inquisitive and Capable children have been recognized by this wonderful, ego-boosting program? It is “real bang for the buck.” And how many parents’ and caregivers’ vehicles sport the gold and blue “Terrific Kids” sticker? We’ve all seen the bumper stickers and know a Terrific Kid. A kid who was recognized for so much more than the marks on their report card. I know my kids were some kind of proud when they were recognized for their newly discovered leadership skills. I don’t like bumper stickers, but an exception had to be made for our terrific kids!

Our local Kiwanis club, with your generosity, also supports: Sleeping Children Around the World; Kids of Steel; Prince Edward County Soccer Association; Benson Park; The Night Before Kindergarten; Prince Edward Collegiate Institute Graduate Awards; Kiwanis Prince Edward Art Council Scholarship; Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation; Tri- County Hospital Foundation – Imagine Campaign; Hospice Prince Edward; Salvation Army Children’s Christmas Party; Salvation Army Children’s Camp; Food Bank and Meals on Wheels. The Kiwanis Club of Picton is busy in this community making it a better place to live and work.

If you’re a cyclist and ready to hit the road for a morning of County touring (maybe have a laugh at my style), a great lunch, a sack of produce and a whole lot of goodwill, contact the Kiwanis Club at www.pictonkiwanis.homestead.com and click on “Colour Cribbage Ride Fundraiser.” Or show up with you bicycle, your helmet and your 50 bucks at 8:30 a.m. on October 1s at the Curling Club. See you on the road—well, not really on the road but you know what I mean.

theresa@wellingtontimes.ca