Village Project gearing up for Project Pedal

Are you looking for a great reason to gather your friends, family or co-workers of all ages and abilities together for a pleasant morning bike ride? Wouldn’t you love to enjoy each other’s company while stretching your muscles, feeling the fresh air in your lungs and taking in the sights and sounds of an early summer Saturday?

You can have this kind of fun and, at the same time, help to support Village Project in its mission to come together as a community to provide nourishing meals and extended care and service to our neighbors experiencing cancer.

The fifth annual Project Pedal charitable bike ride will be held on Saturday, June 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event begins and ends at a new location this year: Cahoon Memorial Park.

Village Project will be holding their charitable bike ride in conjunction with Destination Bay. Participants will have the opportunity to begin their day with Project Pedal and then continue on to enjoy the many activities that will be taking place throughout the city on June 16.

There are five routes to choose from:

Pea Pod Pedal (100 yards) is for 2- and 3-year-olds on trikes and big wheels. Registration fee: $10.

Sprout Route (400 yards) is for children 6 years and under on two-wheelers, with or without training wheels. Registration fee: $15.

Cucumber Course (6 miles) is for all ages. The route travels primarily on side streets with a rest stop at Village Project headquarters. Parental supervision is suggested for young riders. Registration fee: $25.

Kale Trail (15 miles) is for intermediate riders of all ages. The route travels through Bay Village. Rest stops will be at Village Project, Reese Park and Bradley Park. Sidewalks are available throughout the ride. Parental supervision is suggested for young riders. Registration fee: $30.

Artichoke Adventure (30 miles) is for more experienced riders of all ages. The route travels through Bay Village, Avon Lake, Westlake and Sheffield Lake. Rest stops again will be at Village Project, Reese Park and Bradley Park in Bay Village. Much of the ride will take place on well-traveled roads such as Lake, Bradley and Walker. Registration fee: $40.

Route maps for each ride will be available on the Village Project website (ourvillageproject.com).

Registering for Project Pedal can be done directly on the website. Registration forms also may be picked up at Village Project headquarters, 27378 W. Oviatt Road in Bay Village. Riders registered by June 6 will receive a Village Project drawstring bag, course maps, SAG support, refreshments, rest stops and a free T-shirt. Those registering after June 6 will pay an extra $5 per registration and will not receive a T-shirt.

Join in some healthy competition and help support Village Project by raising funds in addition to the registration fee. Compete individually or as a team to raise the most for this deserving service organization and win a prize. The top individual fundraiser receives one month of VP meals for up to four people while the top fundraising team wins a cooking class and fun evening for up to 12 people at Village Project. The team with the most creative name earns the right to name a Village Project recipe. In addition, individual fundraisers will receive a $25 Century Cycles gift card for every $250 they raise.

In 2017, over 300 bike riders and 100 volunteers participated in Project Pedal, raising $35,000. This year’s goal is 500 riders and $40,000. These funds will assist Village Project in fulfilling its mission and enable their volunteers to continue cooking three days per week for the communities it serves: Bay Village, Westlake, Avon, Avon Lake and Rocky River.

Another way to lend your support to Project Pedal is through sponsorships, which are available with a variety of benefits and provide an opportunity to create positive corporate awareness and brand visibility while demonstrating your community support.

SAFETY FIRST: Our three longest routes take place on city streets without traffic control. Understanding bicycle rules and regulations is key to keeping riders safe. To this end, the Village Bicycle Cooperative is offering free safety classes and bike checks. Open to all those registered for Project Pedal, you may attend one on Saturday, June 9, 11 a.m.-noon, or Wednesday, June 13, 6-7 p.m.

More information can be found on ourvillageproject.com or by calling 440-348-9401.