Niagara Bike-a-thon Print E-mail
Monday, 09 June 2008 08:08
The weather was wonderful, the views gorgeous, the volunteers exceptional and the riders enthusiastic, energetic and .... successful! Our final count was 323 riders and a total of $51,000 raised for the Nakekela HIV/AIDS step-down clinic in South Africa.

In addition to the generous financial donations to the riders, numerous companies donated food for the barbecue, 3 bikes as prizes for those who raised the most money and mountains of water bottles - thanks to the Langendoens of Culligan Niagara Water Technologies Inc. (very much needed on a warm day!).

The Lord was gracious and there were no injuries - there were a few blown tires and a few people that had to take a rest before continuing on.

Riders came from far and wide. I'd like to make special mention of the school buses which traveled from Burgessville bringing an estimated 100 riders. Thanks Henk Vrugteveen, bus drivers and riders!




Above: The bike-a-thon organizing committee together with the Miskins, the winners of the bike prizes and Rick Postma of Word & Deed.



Facing the camera from the left are Richard Brouwer, one of the main organizers, Brian Bruinekool who cruised the parkway helping people who needed a hand and Dick Brouwer, Richard's dad, who picked up signs and made sure no garbage was left behind.



While volunteers registered the riders, the neural network in the background was embodied in none other than Mark Fintelman





Dirk Bruinsma drove this wonderful contraption from Brantford to Ft. Erie on Thursday and then road the 52 km bike-a-thon together with his wife Willie.


Volunteers providing Culligan supplied water to thirsty drivers were a welcome site to the rider.




Dirk Vrugteveen doing what he loves to do - cook up a storm.



Word got out and Dirk was soon taking orders from local restaurants :>)



What a team! Richard Brouwer - all motivation and energy - and Mark Fintelman - tracking all the details and making sure every "i" got dotted and "t" crossed ...



Rev. Miskin addressing the bike-a-thon participants.



May the Lord bless the Nakekela step-down clinic and her staff as they minister to the HIV/AIDS patients. We pray that many would be stabilized and that still more would come to know their Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
 
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