Project Pedal returns to benefit Village Project on June 17

Riders participate in last year's Project Pedal fundraiser. This year's event will be held on Saturday, June 17.

Are you looking for a great reason to gather your friends, family or co-workers of all ages and abilities 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, a very worthy local organization, in its mission to provide nourishing meals and extended care and service to local families experiencing cancer.

The fourth annual Project Pedal charitable bike ride will be held on Saturday, June 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event begins and ends at Bay Middle School, 27725 Wolf Road.

There are five routes to choose from:

• Pea Pod Pedal (100 yards) is for two- and three-year-olds on trikes and big wheels. Registration fee: $10.
• Sprout Route (400 yards) is for children six 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 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, Clague Park and Bradley Park. Sidewalks are available throughout the ride. Parental supervision is suggested for young riders. Registration fee: $30.
• Artichoke Adventure (35 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, Clague Park and Bradley Park in Bay Village. New this year will be a rest stop at Buffalo Wild Wings in Avon Lake, with beer and wings available by 10:30 a.m. Much of the ride will take place on well-traveled roads such as Lake, Bradley, Walker and Hilliard. Registration fee: $40.

Route maps for each ride are available on the Village Project website, ourvillageproject.com.

Registering for Project Pedal is easy. Register directly online or download a form from the Village Project website. Registration forms also may be picked up at Village Project headquarters, 27378 W. Oviatt Road in Bay Village. Riders registered by June 7 will receive a Village Project drawstring bag, course maps, SAG support, refreshments, rest stops and a free T-shirt. Those registering after June 7 will pay an extra $5 per registration and will not receive a free 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 2016, 330 bike riders participated in Project Pedal and raised over $30,000. 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, Rocky River, Avon and Avon Lake.

Another way to lend your support to Project Pedal is through sponsorships, which are available with a variety of benefits. Executive Chef ($1,000), Sous Chef ($500) and Assistant Chef ($250) are back this year and provide an opportunity to create positive corporate awareness and brand visibility while demonstrating your community support. New this year is Personal Chef ($100) which allows the sponsor to purchase a directional sign personalized with the sponsor’s name. These signs will be displayed on the day of the event to help mark routes. More information can be found on the website or by calling Village Project at 440-348-9401.