Wilkeson bike climb working for a good cause
Published 12:30 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Casey Steiner
The Courier-Herald
For the sporting cyclist looking for a purposeful ride this spring, the Wilkeson Self-timed Bike Climb, April 15, offers a 50K bike ride with all proceeds donated to a foundation at Mary Bridge Hospital to help fight child abuse.
Starting from Wilkeson, the 14th annual 26.6-mile ride runs through rolling terrain, an estimated 1,000-foot elevation gain, to the head of the Carbon River and returns to Wilkeson. The ride is in correlation with, but not affiliated with, the 172-mile Courage Classic bike ride that runs through three of the state's mountain passes each summer and raised $458,000 last year for the Mary Bridge/Courage Classic fund in the name of child abuse.
Bill Whitlow, the interim manager of the Wilkeson ride, has hopes the one-day Plateau event will help spur competitors to take part in the higher stakes at the Courage Classic Aug. 6-8.
"In order for each ride to survive, we need fresh legs," Whitlow said. "Some people don't participate in the Courage Classic because it is such a demanding, three-day ride. We hope to pick up the riders (for the Wilkeson ride) who don't think they are able to make a commitment to the Courage Classic. Then we'll see how many of them we can convince to join us this summer."
A survivor of child abuse as a youngster, Whitlow has taken a personal interest in the fund-raising efforts of the Mary Bridge Hospital foundation. The hospital is building an endowment through annual fund raising for prevention, intervention and recovery from child abuse.
"The hospital plays an important role to stop the cycle of child abuse," Whitlow said. "They own the Courage Classic and we want to do what we can to help out, too. Hopefully one day soon, Mary Bridge won't have to count on fund raising to survive."
Whitlow expects a crowd of 125 or more to turn out for the Wilkeson ride. Competitors pay a pre-registration fee of $18, or an on-site registration fee of $24. Drinks, bananas, restrooms, parking and a free raffle of about $1,000 worth of certificates will be provided to the riders.
On-site registration starts at 7:30 a.m. April 15 in Wilkeson. A ride meeting follows at 8 a.m. and the first riders out will be released at 8:30. A helmet is required. To pre-register, or for information, contact Whitlow at 253-863-3890.
Whitlow stresses the event is not promoted as a race for legal reasons, but realizes several riders will time themselves and some will compete within groups and with friends. Riders take personal responsibility for their safety. No reward will be given to the first finishers.
The Courage Classic takes an expected 450 or more riders on a trek over Snoqualmie Pass, Blewett Pass and Stevens Pass. Registration is $50 and a minimum of $400 in pledge money is required to participate. Accommodations at local camp grounds, a few meals and rewards for top pledges are provided. Contact Event Manager Jeff Randall at 253-403-4374 or courage.classic@multicare.org for information or visit www.courageclassic.com.
Casey Steiner can be reached at csteiner@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.
