Ride raises funds for Rotary scholarships
Pictured from left to right at City Beach after the finish of the WaCanId ride on Saturday are Dave Cameron (Oregon), Brian Orr, county commission candidate for district 2, Mel Dick, Ray Leske (Washington), Matt Kerr, President of the Rotary Club of Sandpoint, Frank Otto (Spokane), Liz Leske (Washington), Rosemary Otto and Dana Williams, Chairman of the Sandpoint leg of the race. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)
SANDPOINT — It was a classic win-win situation.
More than 70 cyclists from around the U.S. got to enjoy a five-day tour around the picturesque International Selkirk Loop last week, and because of their pedaling efforts, a host of local students will get help going to college.
It was all part of the second WaCanId Ride, a fundraiser put on by regional Rotary Clubs that raised nearly $30,000, most of which will go towards funding future Rotary scholarships and various community projects.
Sandpoint cycling enthusiast Mel Dick was one of more than 40 riders that left City Beach on Tuesday, before cycling 340 miles through Idaho, Washington and Canada, only to return to City Beach on Saturday. Dick, a Sandpoint Rotary member, said the highlight was the beautiful scenery along the many rivers, lakes and Northern Rocky Mountains along the Selkirk Loop.
“The sights, sounds and smells you get when you’re out riding,” described Dick. “It’s like being in your car in slow motion.”
More than 20 riders from Creston, B.C. and another dozen from Nelson simultaneously rode the same loop. The route included legs from Sandpoint to Creston, Creston to Nelson, Nelson to Salmo, B.C., Salmo to Ione, Wash., and Ione back to Sandpoint. Riders stayed at hotels and ate at restaurants along the nationally acclaimed route.
Dick, 57, was the lone Sandpoint rider among his group, which included cyclists from around the Northwest and as far away as Connecticut, West Virginia and Kansas. The ride grew from 12 participants in the first year to 78 this year, with organizers hoping it continues to grow as word of mouth spreads. Oldtown Rotarian Brian Orr, county commission candidate for District 2, said the event was the idea of fellow Oldtown Rotarian Dean Cummings.
“It was kind of our brainchild,” said Orr, who hopes to get better funding for bike routes in the future. “One of our members came up with the idea, and we ran with it. It will put between $2,000-3,000 per Rotary Club in the seven communities on the loop.”
Matt Kerr, the president of the Rotary Club of Sandpoint, was at the finish line on Saturday to welcome the riders back to City Beach. He said the money raised will be put to good use and is greatly appreciated.
“It means we’ll be able to give away more scholarships to more kids in Bonner County,” said Kerr. “Which is what most of us got into Rotary for.”
Next up for Dick is a four-person Race Across America next June. He’ll team with fellow Sandpoint cyclists Wayne Pignolet, Jacob Styer and Al LeMire on a nine-day ride from Oceanside, Calif. to Annapolis, Maryland, raising money for autism.