Character Counts pays it forward with benefit bike ride

Funds raised at the Character Counts bike ride on May 31 will support World Bicycle Relief, an organization that provides durable, sustainable bicycle transportation for community educators, medical support teams and vulnerable, child-led households in Zambia, Africa. (Photo by Craid DeAmbrose - World Bicycle Relief)

Sunday, May 31

Bike ride

First Presbyterian Church, 3501 Hill Ave., Spirit Lake

1:15 p.m. - walk up registration

2 p.m. - riders depart on 5, 15, and 35 mile rides

Character Counts Picnic

Preservation Plaza, Arnolds Park

4:30 p.m. with grilled burgers, live music, success stories and a prize drawing

The Dickinson County Character Counts Pay it Forward project continues to make an impact both locally and worldwide. On Sunday, May 31, the reach will be global as Character Counts partners with World Bicycle Relief for a benefit bike ride.

"Character Counts made me one of the $50 recipients during the Pay it Forward project [last fall]," said Rick Porter, event organizer. "At that same time, James and Kari Webb learned about World Bicycle Relief."

Porter decided to integrate the two efforts and organize a Character Counts bike ride this

summer. The benefit bike ride will raise funds to purchase durable, sustainable bicycle transportation for community educators, medical support teams and vulnerable, child-led households in Zambia, Africa. World Bicycle Relief, a non-profit organization has provided nearly 50,000 bicycles to people in the Tsunami region since 2005.

The ride is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31 at the First Presbyterian Church parking lot in Spirit Lake. Bikers may choose rides of 5, 15 or 35 miles and are encouraged to raise pledges for their ride. All tax deductible donations will be used to purchase transportation for people in crisis.

Each bicycle donated to World Bicycle Relief can be sponsored for a gift of $134. The Okoboji Expedition Company on Highway 71 has one of these bicycles on display.

To kick off the project's fund-raising, Porter used his $50 seed money to make donor plaques. He sought donors to give $1,000 to the Pay It Forward project.

"I got some $1,000 donations and some $500 donations. At this point, people have committed or given $4,500," said Porter.

In addition to these donors, one additional donor choose to take a challenge of a matching gift, giving 50 bikes to World Bicycle Relief. The gift was matched with another 50 bikes to the organization.

"In a sense, we've already given 100 bikes," said Porter. "I would be really pleased if we could double what's already been given."

Along with this project of character to help neighbors in need, Dickinson County Character Counts will be hosting a picnic at Preservation Plaza in Arnolds Park following the bike ride. All members and friends are invited to come join in the excitement and help celebrate the journey of becoming Iowa's very first County of Character. Entertainment is scheduled, prizes will be drawn and grilled burgers, chips and a drink will be offered for only $5. Several African students will be special guests for the picnic event.

Every biker who raises funds of at least $20 for this cause will receive World Bicycle Relief water bottles and patches, a free burger, chips and drink at the picnic following the bike ride and will be entered in a drawing for a $300 gift certificate to the Okoboji Expedition Company and World Bicycle Relief t-shirts, jerseys and socks.

* Those who would like to make a donation or pre-register for the event contact www.charactercounts.kintera.org or call (712) 332-2883.