Apr 29, 2008 - 04:05:06 CDT
Stick out your arm. Left or right, doesn't matter.Turn up your palm.
Bend at the elbow, and pat your back.
Repeat.
The results are in: Good-hearted bike riders from Bismarck-Mandan and surrounding towns raised $215,000 at the 12th annual Great American Bike Race. The money is used to help local families that have been affected by cerebral palsy.
"It says a lot about our community that all these different people and all these different groups come together for one reason and create this fantastic event," Bruce Klootwyk, race director, said.
"I think it says so much about the good people of Bismarck-Mandan, and frankly, it makes me proud to be a part of this town."
The race - both in terms of donations and miles ridden - was the largest in the event's 12-year history. The $215,000 surpassed last year's total of $180,000, which was the previous record. During the inaugural ride in 1997, participants brought in about $10,000.
Though the dollar amounts have changed dramatically, the goal of Medcenter One's stationary-bike race has remained the same. The money helps families pay for medical equipment their insurance won't cover. Kids have specialized wheelchairs and leg braces and medicine because of the Great American Bike Race.
"The results are fantastic," Klootwyk said.
This year's race was held at Century High School on April 12. It took the bean counters a while to tally all the money; it's taking them longer and longer each year, which is considered by all to be a good thing.
In addition to the record amount of money raised, the total number of miles also was a new high. All told, 100 teams (of 10 riders each) biked 8,762 miles. That's the equivalent of riding from (take a deep breath if you're reading aloud) Bismarck to Minneapolis to Detroit to Boston to Miami to Houston to Los Angeles to Seattle and back to Bismarck, with enough miles left over for a cool-down ride from here to Alexandria, Minn.
The top individual fundraiser, for the second straight year, was Jason Lachenmeier. He raised $5,343, and his team - Mitch's Mighty Dickinson Riders - was the top overall fundraiser with $7,574.
Two kinds of bikes were used this year, and they were calibrated a little differently. The top team on the yellow bikes was YMCA Early Morning, which went 94.05 miles. The top team on the black bikes was the Cranks, which went 133.99 miles.
The top individual rider on the yellow bikes was Eric Hardmeyer, who biked 10.29 miles. The top rider on the black bikes was James Hellman, who totaled 14.59 miles.
And here, at the end of the story, is the best news (good for you for reading this far): The race's disbursement committee meets in a couple of weeks to hand out some of the new money to people who really need it.
For more information on the race or how to apply for a disbursement, call the Medcenter One Foundation at 323-8450.
verde wrote on Apr 29, 2008 6:07 PM:
Socks wrote on Apr 29, 2008 2:53 PM:
sarahr wrote on Apr 29, 2008 12:18 PM:
Nick wrote on Apr 29, 2008 9:02 AM:
Hog Man wrote on Apr 29, 2008 8:17 AM:
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.