Pubdate: Thu, 09 Aug 2012
Source: Lloydminster Source (CN SN)
Copyright: 2012 Lloydminster Source
Contact:  http://www.lloydminstersource.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4856
Author: Thomas Miller

R.O.A.D. NEEDS MORE SUPPORT

This weekend's Ride On Against Drugs has not had the support of 
previous years thus far, according to organizer Dave Rechlo.

So far only nine riders are signed up for the 220-kilometre bike 
ride, just half of last year's total.

Rechlo said that some people are probably scared off by the length of 
the ride, but anyone is welcome to join the ride for as many 
kilometres as they like, even if that's only 10.

However, Rechlo doesn't think people should be put off by the length.

"Some people they get intimidated by the 220 kilometres. It's not 
that tough," he said. "I'm 54 years old and I'm not in the best shape 
I've ever been in, I'm in reasonable shape I guess. As long as you've 
got a decent bike it's not that hard."

Rechlo organized the first ride back in 2009 and it has become a 
fundraiser for the Thorpe Recovery Centre, directed towards youth 
rehabilitation.

The ride has generated $35,000 in donations since 2009.

For Rechlo and his family, the loss of family friend Aaron Honoroski 
to a drug overdose in 2009, brought the issue to the forefront.

"Everybody's got their own reasons for riding," said Rechlo in a 
phone interview. "They know somebody that's been involved with drugs, 
they have a family member or an acquaintance or a friend or they know 
somebody that drugs messed up their lives.

"It's a really good cause. For some reason this year it seems to have 
fallen by the wayside. We had quite a bit of riders last year that 
didn't come back this year."

Rechlo set an ambitious goal this year: $30,000 in total donations.

He admits now, however, that they will be hard pressed to reach that goal.

"I always did my major fundraising in the last week before the ride," 
he said. "So I'm going to assume that it will climb fairly well. I 
just don't know if we'll get to our target this year."

In addition to donations, Rechlo also needs volunteers to help as 
support drivers - those who will drive their cars with the cyclists 
to ensure they've got water and energy to carry on.

The support drivers are also necessary to keep the cyclists safe on 
Highway 16. Last year there was a close call with a semi that nearly 
clipped one of the riders.

"There's basically a travelling billboard with flashing lights on it, 
I don't know how they can't see it or can't see that they're gaining 
on it, but he went to go around on the right-hand side and that's 
where one of our riders was riding," he said. "Really lucky (that no 
one was injured)."

The ride starts on Saturday in Ardrossan, stopping in Innisfree for 
the night and finishes at the Thorpe Recovery Centre on Sunday.

To get involved or to donate, contact Dave Rechlo at 780-808-6819.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom