Jessica Lewis
For The New Era
Between 500 and 600 cyclists are expected to ride through Sweet Home to raise money to battle multiple sclerosis during the weekend of July 19 and 20.
Participants will be following routes that lead to covered bridges while helping support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In addition to the fund-raiser, the event provides Sweet Home with the opportunity to educate visitors about the city’s attractions and inspire people to return for vacations.
“We looked for a new location that was completely different than anything we’ve done before and the covered bridge theme came out,” said Sarah Schirmer, who is organizing the event. “Weddle Bridge in Sankey Park was just a perfect site, connected to a park and a school, so we built the event around that.”
This is the 24th year of the Oregon Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Bike MS, making it “one of the Northwest’s longest-running, benefit cycling events,” according to a press statement.
Campsites will be set up at Sankey Park and the high school football field. The camping area will open at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 18, and the bike rides will begin at 8 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Multiple routes will be offered with distances of 10, 50, 75 and 100 miles on Saturday; and 2, 18 and 50 miles on Sunday.
In addition to the bike rides, vendors and informational booths such as a bike shop, REI and Epic, the event’s main sponsor, will be set up at the school and the park.
Cyclists from all over the state are expected, as well as a large group from Seattle and a few from Colorado and Texas, Schirmer said.
Local government and business representatives see the event as a chance to boost local tourism, City Manager Craig Martin said.
“Any time you bring 500 or so people to the community that maybe haven’t ever been here is certainly a good opportunity,” he said. “If they have a good time and they enjoy the city and the scenery, maybe they’ll choose to come back some other time. I think it’s a good opportunity to get people to come back to visit and enjoy the community later on.”
Sweet Home Area Revitalization Effort representatives will host a booth at the event to educate visitors about Sweet Home and the activities that are available in the area, said Shannon Thayer, a member of the Downtown Revitalization Programming and Marketing Committee. Thayer said she hopes the booth will motivate people to return to Sweet Home.
Volunteers are needed to help with the booth, and Thayer asks those interested to contact her at (541) 570-5765 or at [email protected].
“We’re going to try to have information available to show people how great it is here,” she said.
“Short term, let’s hope that people walk around the city and utilize the area and spend some of their money here. Long term, maybe they’ll come back for a vacation or two, maybe they’ll invest, maybe they’ll buy a home, or maybe they’ll come back just to ride.”
Cyclists interested in joining the race should register on-line at http://www.bikeMSoregon.com. Each rider must raise a minimum of $250, but the Oregon Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society will help participants raise money.
For those who would like to watch the cyclists in action, Schirmer said the routes all begin along Long Street and will run toward Pleasant Valley Road before splitting up in different directions. The best viewing spot will be along Pleasant Valley Road, she said.
Volunteers are also needed to help with setting up, checking arriving participants in, managing rest stops along the routes and assisting during meal time. Volunteers certified in First Aid and CPR are also needed. To volunteer, visit http://www.bikeMSoregon.com.
“It’s going to be very positive and a real fun weekend for Sweet Home,” said Edene Flierl, an assistant in the Sweet Home Planning Department. “I really hope that everyone comes out and enjoys the event and the vendors.”