Trail of the CdA bike ride helps fight ALS
BICYCLING -- The 2nd annual Silver Valley Ride to Defeat ALS, a fundraising cycling event, will be held on Saturday, June 27, along the scenic Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, out of Kingston, Idaho.
The one-day cycling event is a major fundraiser for the Evergreen Chapter of the ALS Association to fight ALS—amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The Silver Valley Ride is one of only eight ALS Association sanctioned cycling fundraising events across the country. “Our inaugural Ride in 2014 was a great success,” said Cindy Moore, who is co-organizer of the event and serves on the Evergreen Chapter Board of Directors. “We raised more than $82,000 for local families living with ALS, and 117 cyclists participated. This year, our goal is to have 200 cyclists ride for ALS.”
Moore is no stranger to the disease, as she was diagnosed with ALS in 2010. “Most people are given only two to five years to live.” Moore said. “The neurological disease gradually paralyzes its victims, causing them to lose their ability to walk, speak, eat, and eventually breathe. Yet the person’s mind remains sharp and aware of the total paralysis that is setting in.”
Moore has accepted her fate in living with ALS, but continues to work for the cause, “So it doesn’t have to be that way for future generations.”
The Silver Valley Ride is family-friendly and takes place along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, beginning and ending at the Enaville Trailhead, across from the Snake Pit Resort. Participants can choose from two distances—27.2 or 42.6 miles.
A safety team, several staffed refreshment stops, and Ride volunteers will be present along the route. Participants can create a team, join a team, ride as an individual, or be a “virtual” cyclist (raise funds without participating in the Ride).
The event is open to anyone 12 years or older, and children under 12 years can participate as a ride-along with an adult, if riding on a tandem-, trailer-, or tag-along bike.
Ride organizers are encouraging PALS to participate as well. The paved trail has options for the mobility disabled, and wheelchairs, manual assistance devices, and mobility scooters are all permitted on the Trail.
The registration fee is $50 through June 26 and $60 the day of the event, and includes a catered lunch provided by the Snake Pit.
- Cycling evens online: More than 100 organized bicycle-related events have been compiled in the 2015 Northwest Bicycling Events Calendar. Listings include convenient hot links to events registrations and cycling groups in the region.
