Rides 'n' Strides bikers raise money for charity
By Sam Bari

Riding for charity Melissa Minto, at right, shows off the Rides n' Strides T-shirt. Below, unicyclists dazzle the crowds and at right, Hannah Davis is the recipient of a check for $1,000 from APC's James Walker. Photos by Andrea von Hohenleiten & Sam Bari

Despite the dreary weather, enthusiastic athletes arrived at Ft. Getty to participate in the Rides 'n' Strides for Humanity Rotary Club fund-raiser last Sunday. Many came early and began their trek around one of six scenic courses before the official 2 p.m. start time. Melissa Minto, who manned the registration desk, said that at least 50 people had registered before start time, and that did not include those who registered online. "We had a good turnout," she said.

The Rides 'n' Strides program was new for 2007, and turned the traditional Columbus Day Round the Island Bike Race into a twoday event, said Rotarian Steve Mecca, chairman of the bicycle race for the last ten years. Sponsored participants walked, jogged, rode bicycles, skateboards, or kickscooters and even rollerbladed for their choice of several charitable and humanitarian projects. Unicycles, tandems, and hand cycles were also included in the program. The events were designed to be fun for everyone from the conditioned athlete to the person who takes leisurely walks with the dog, Mecca said.

"We eliminated the citizens race on Columbus Day to address some safety issues and encourage more not-so-serious athletes to participate in a variety of events where they could feel more comfortable and be included without being intimidated by the professionals. By splitting the program, the entire weekend was more fun for everybody," Mecca said. The Rides 'n' Strides program was not meant to be competitive. It was intended to invite people to come out and get some exercise, enjoy the day, and raise money for some very worthwhile charities, he said.

Participants in all events were given the choice of donating to five different charitable and humanitarian projects that included Jamestown Community projects, the Nicaragua Wheelchair Project, a Ghana Literacy Project, Pure Water projects and a National Charities Fund.

Adult participants were required to raise a minimum of $100, while children were required to raise $20. T-shirts were given to each participant along with coupons, one for every $50 raised, for valuable drawing prizes. All participants were given a complimentary ticket to the pasta dinner that followed the events on Sunday afternoon. Special prizes were awarded to participants who raised funds exceeding the minimum.

Brenda Calkins, with her able team of Rotary volunteers, managed the food and refreshments that included a large chocolate birthday cake for Rotarians Ernestine Fryburg and media coordinator for the event, Nick Morenzi. While Brenda and crew cooked up the pasta, Charlie Normand manned the grill and made the best-grilled Italian sausage sandwiches this side of Federal Hill.

"Since everybody was sponsored, all they were required to do was complete one of the various scenic courses," Mecca said. He went on to say that, "Most bike riders rode the 19.2 mile course around the island, and many others walked the six miles to Beavertail and back. There was no real start or finish line. Everybody completed their event at a leisurely pace and chatted along the way while they enjoyed the scenery. It turned out to be a very fun day."

Karen Basso, 8, from Wakefield came with her adult friend Soad Davis of Newport and they walked to Beavertail and back for the children of Ghana. Quillan Scheer, 12, and dad, Eric, of Peacedale, along with Lisa Edwards, all of the South County Lunacycles club, rode their unicycles to Beavertail.

The day was particularly special for Hannah Davis, 19, who rode her bicycle around the island with her grandfather, event Chairman Steve Mecca. Hannah visited Africa and spent two months in Ghana after graduating from high school in 2006. She did an independent study on education in the poverty stricken country and found that education seriously lacked. "There were as many as 75 to 90 students per class per teacher," she said.

Upon returning, Davis presented her findings to the International Reading Association and the Jamestown Rotary Club, which sponsored her initial trip. She partnered with the Women's Trust, and with the help of the Rotary Club, the funds were raised to start the Ghana Literacy Project, which she founded.