To all TAB members,
I wanted to let you know about an exciting opportunity, and we need your help!
As many of you know, The Right Direction Youth Development Program will be hosting their annual BikeToberFest next Sunday, October 1st, 2023 (from 10:00 am – Until Complete) at the: Heavy Wheelhouse (3520 Waterville Swanton RD, Swanton, OH 43558). This is their biggest fundraiser of the year and the monies raised help them fund their many youth enrichment programs, including many cycling events. PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING THIS fun activity! From their Facebook event page ( https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Right-Direction-Youth-Development-Program-100064353022468/):
Were hosting our 6th Annual TRD Fundraiser...If you like the following things: Bikes, Beer, BBQ, Tunes, Raffles, Silent Auctions.... then your gonna LOVE “BIKETOBERFEST!!”
Join us on Sunday October 1st at The Heavy Wheelhouse. We will have some great local food and brews from our good friends over at Sworden's Smoke BBQ! HEAVY Beer Co. Earnest Brew Works. Juniper and more!
We will also be hosting a CYCLING EXPO AND SO MUCH MORE!!!
All proceeds go towards our 501(c)(3) Non-profit Youth Development Program. This is our BIGGEST Fundraiser of the year!!
If you’re not familiar with what The Right Direction YDP does, I encourage you to visit their webpage and click on the “ABOUT US” tab. They’re a great organization that engages with local youth in numerous activities, many of which include cycling.
TAB will be sponsoring TWO kids this year by providing them with new bikes! TAB has supported The Right Direction previously and donated $350 per bike, and so will be donating $700 this year, BUT… after messaging with Don B., (Co-Founder of The Right Direction, and many of you know him from the Spoke Life – Perrysburg location), due to rising costs, the actual cost of these bikes is closer to $600 apiece.
This is where TAB needs the support of its members… we would really like to raise the additional funds to cover the costs of these bike, so we need another $500 to push over the finish-line. If we don’t, The Right Direction “eats” those costs, so let’s help them out.
I received the following information from Don. He picked two deserving kids, here’s what he said:
So, one of the kids, is Cole, he’s the second oldest of 5 kids. He is active with lots of things, including climbing, Legos, youth group. He started mountain biking 3 years ago when he joined the Black Swamp Riders in 2020 when they created the team. Over the last 3 years, he has had many complications with his bike, (it seems like every practice)! But has learned a lot from trying to fix his bike on his own. He has earned money to help pay for the things that needed repaired by doing yard work, helping his grandma with her chickens, as well as working at the local ice cream shop. Cole is kind, honest, hard-working and so very deserving.
The other child who also needs a bike for scholastic racing is a foster kid, so I’m not allowed to share his info, but he really deserves a bike and we want to help him out too.
Both need MTBs that are higher end for racing, and cost $500-$600 at our end, these are the two we really would like your help with. Both these kids are part of the local community.
Here’s where all of you come in. Our Ride Captains, Chuck Nicewonder & Joe Peltier will be accepting donations at their remaining Club rides. Chuck at the Tuesday Speedtrap, and Joe at the Thursday 5fer. I will be accepting donations at next Saturday’s Meandering ride. You can give either cash or checks, (please make checks out to The Right Direction Youth Program).
Here’s other electronic options, you can send donations via Ca$happ, Venmo, or Zelle to me, and I will consolidate that and get it over to Don:
Ca$happ: $BarretDJ
Venmo: @David-Barret-2
Zelle: (419) 351-2968
For credit card transactions, you can go directly to The Right Direction’s webpage, (https://the-right-direction-org-103840.square.site/) and click the “DONATE” button. If there’s an option to add a note, please mention TAB and shoot me an email or text letting me know you donated directly via the website.
Any money raised OVER the $500, will go towards our two kids in the form of Spoke Life gift-cards for cycling gear and other needed supplies in relation to their participation with The Right Direction.
THANKS everyone! And I hope to see you at BikeToberFest!
On Behalf of the TAB Executive Board,
David J. Barret
barretdj@aol.com
(419) 351-2968
