Grab your sneakers or your bicycle and join ADEC on Saturday, May 20, at Northridge High School for the 45th running of (Walk, Run or) Ride-A-Bike.
Registration is now open for our biggest fundraiser. To sign up, simply visit adecinc.com/bike. You won’t want to miss it.
What’s new this year?
This is a big year for ADEC, so we want Ride-A-Bike to be better than ever. To celebrate ADEC’s 65th anniversary as a nonprofit and the 45th anniversary of Ride-A-Bike, we’ve added special 45-mile and 65-mile anniversary routes. This is your chance to check that metric century (100 kilometers) off your bucket list! But don’t worry, we’ll still have the shorter routes of 5 and 18 miles if you’re looking for an fun and easy ride.
We also have enhanced SAG (support and gear) stops along the routes this year. The two big ones will be at Krider Gardens along the Pumpkinvine Trail and at the Trading Place Pavilion in Shipshewana. At Krider Gardens, we’ll have live music, games and arts & crafts for the whole family to enjoy alongside ADEC clients. In Shipshewana, you’ll be treated to free massages, a fun photo opportunity and a demonstration of cool new bike gear. Oh, and most importantly: Both stops will have delicious food to fuel the rest of your ride.
This year’s Ride-A-Bike will be so much fun, we couldn’t contain all the excitement to just one day. The pre-ride party will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 19, also at Northridge High School. You can pick up your rider packet, enjoy some pizza (that counts as carb-loading, right?) and groove to some great live music.
How do I sign up?
We want to make this easy for you, so we created a fun video to help you through the registration process. Check it out below:
If you’re not comfortable signing up online, that’s OK. You can still register on the day of the event, but keep in mind that we can’t guarantee an event T-shirt will still be available for purchase. If you’re registering on-site, you can still raise funds ahead of time using the Ride-A-Bike Donation Sheet.
What if I can’t make the ride this year?
We’re sorry to miss you, but you can still sign up to be a virtual rider and support ADEC. Simply go through the online portal to register as a new participant, and then select “Virtual Fundraiser.” You won’t need to pay a registration fee, but you can still create an online fundraising page for Ride-A-Bike. You can then use your online profile to collect donations from friends and family — think of it as a GoFundMe page, but specifically for ADEC.
Any cool prizes?
Yes!
Our top individual, youth and team fundraisers will be recognized during an award ceremony at the pre-ride party. But that’s not all.
If you’re riding with a team this year (no more than 5 people), you can win big. If your team raises $10,000, dinner is on us — we’ll give you a certificate for $500 to be used at a restaurant of your choosing. Raise $20,000, and you’ll be treated to a $1,500 Hotels.com certificate for a weekend getaway AND a $500 certificate for dinner. Check out this video to learn more about the ADEC Ride-A-Bike Team Challenge:
This year, we’re also introducing a School Spirit Showdown. The local school with the highest rate of participation will win $500 to be used on its fitness program and a really awesome traveling trophy. We think it would be really cool for the winner to use the money to purchase gym equipment that makes physical education accessible to all students.
What if I don’t have a bike?
No problem! Walkers and runners are always welcome at Ride-A-Bike! The 5-mile route is perfect for a Saturday stroll to Krider Garden, where you’ll find fun family activities. But don’t worry if you can’t make it that far. We’ll mark turn-around points for 1, 2 and 3 miles, and you’ll still be able to enjoy the festivities at Northridge High School.
Where do the proceeds go?
When you donate to ADEC, you invest in creating more choice and possibility for individuals with developmental disabilities. Your kindness helps further our mission to advocate and serve people with disabilities so they can live A Life of Their Own with Dignity, the opportunity for Employment and to be part of Community. This has been our mission since 1952.
All proceeds from Ride-A-Bike — that includes part of your registration fee in addition to the donations you receive from family and friends — go toward helping people with disabilities discover their potential and find their home in the community.
