Ride For A Reason: Multi-Charity Bikeathon

BFK’s Fall Bike Celebration is held annually on the third weekend in September.  In 2022 that’s September 16-18.  Online registration for Sunday’s Bike Tour — featuring our incomparable Shipshewana Century and Vicksburg Quilt Trail routes — is now open at BikeReg. WE WILL “DATE-STAMP” THE UPDATED PAGES AS WE GET TO THEM.  Plans for Saturday AM will unfold over the next few months.

THE REST OF THIS PAGE PERTAINS TO WHAT WE DID IN 2021.  

Donate online to your favorite Participating Charity through October 15 by clicking on the links below! The ride may be over but you can still help those in need. See the numbers raised in real-time with your donations at our PledgeReg site HERE, which will be added to what our wonderful Pacesetter Sponsors already contributed (see the bottom of this page).

On Saturday September 18 from 9am-noon some 15 wonderful charities will Ride For A Reason to support their causes in this fun “short course” social bicycling event starting and ending at the magnificent timber-framed Vicksburg Community Pavilion in scenic southwest Michigan. This is one of the biggest events of its kind ever in terms of the number of charities we can help — a first you won’t want to miss! Help us hit our goal of raising $10,000 for these worthy causes during challenging times. (PS – in 2021 we exceeded that goal!)

Everyone who registers online will get a coupon for a free cyclist’s Ice Cream cone at Apple Knocker’s Ice Cream Parlor and discounts at local restaurants that will be good for the entire weekend!

No invitation is needed. Riders, supporters, donors & non-riding friends — click on the name of your favorite Participating Charity below to show your support by donating or joining your favorite team. Walkers are welcome, too; just register like everyone else. The dollars we raise don’t depend on distances covered – it’s passion and participation that count! Contributions to a Participating Charity will immediately show up to encourage them and their teams.

If you “just wanna ride” (or walk) without “joining a team,” that’s fine, too — just register here >>BikeReg<< (click on the link) and pick the Non-Fundraising category (Riding w/o fundraising) during registration. The charities will still receive benefits.

Participating Charities
Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo
Generous Hands, Inc.
JDRF – Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity
Kazoo Valley AMBUCS
Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan / be nice. Program
Michigan Blind Athletic Association
Ministry with Community, Inc.
Open Roads Bike Program
Paper Technology Foundation
South County Community Services
Vicksburg Historical Society
Vicksburg Lions Club
YWCA Kalamazoo

… together with Bike Friendly Kalamazoo … which is organizing this exciting first-ever local event as a way to build community through bicycling.

More About Riding Without Fundraising
Each Participating Charity is fielding its own team: a Team Captain and one or more fundraiser-riders and fundraising volunteers who are passionate about their cause. Passionate donors and riders can click on the name of their favorite Participating Charity (above) to have the impact of their participation show up IMMEDIATELY.

Just want to ride? Don’t know the Team Captain? Don’t feel like fundraising for the team? NO WORRIES! Keep reading.

To ride in BFK’s Ride For A Reason Multi-Charity Bikeathon without joining a team, register here >>BikeReg<< (click on the link) and pick the Non-Fundraising category (Riding w/o fundraising) during registration. You won’t be asked to raise money from your friends and family, but you will still be helping those in need out of the proceeds. If the spirit moved you, you could still multiply your fun and personal satisfaction by inviting your friends and family to ride with you — and by spreading the word about this fantastic fundraising ride!

REGISTRATION FEES
Fundraising Riders
Advance (June 1 – August 31): $25 Individual; $50 Family
Last-Minute Online (September 1-14): $30 Individual; $55 Family
On site Registration (Sunday Sept 18): $40 Individual; $70 Family

Riding (w/o Fundraising)
Advance (June 1 – August 31): $30 Individual; $55 Family
Last-Minute Online (September 1-14): $35 Individual; $60 Family
On site Registration (Saturday Sept. 18): $45 Individual; $75 Family

ROUTES
Click HERE for route details and starting times.

T-SHIRT SALES
T-Shirts are available for purchase on BikeReg through Sunday Sept. 10; they will not be available on ride day. This sweet design was lovingly created just for our Fall Bike Celebration. The color in 2023 will be teal, picked by a rider poll. We suggest reserving yours by the deadline, or face the consequences of serious regret and jealous emotion as you behold those who planned in advance. The color below and T-Shirt wording on the reverse is for illustrative purposes only.

No, we are not giving them away since every dollar we are lucky enough to clear over our expenses for this shindig is going straight to worthy 501(c)3 charitable causes. And yes, the Sponsors side will be updated. 🙂

LODGING
Search for lodging & campground info via your favorite browser. Closest hotels are on I-94 at Sprinkle Road. Book camping spaces as far in advance as possible; they are often sold out.

Receipts. Receipts and acknowledgements will reflect Bike Friendly Kalamazoo as the event organizer and IRS 501c3 public charity of record. Proceeds will be distributed to the Participating Charities by prior mutual agreement.

Waivers and Cancellations. Waivers will be required of all event participants. This is a rain or shine fundraising event and all sales are final unless we need to cancel the entire event entirely, for everyone, for unforeseen reasons. For many reasons, all sales and registrations are non-transferable.

Thank you to our Sponsors! Our earliest supporters gave us the encouragement to move ahead with their community support and spirit. These were The Vicksburg Foundation, Gold Pacesetter Sponsors DeNooyer Automotive Family, an anonymous Gold sponsor and Silver Pacesetter Sponsor The Mill At Vicksburg! Thanks to you, we started out $6,500 closer to our $10,000 overall goal — plus you gave the Participating Charities a huge boost of encouragement!

NOW OPEN: Ride For A Reason Leaders Sponsorship Opportunity. The Multi-Charity Bikeathon can also be supported by a special group of Ride For A Reason Leaders. To learn more about becoming a Ride For A Reason Leader, please see our Sponsors page.