Sports Reporter
A group of local cycling enthusiasts and their support team is riding the length of the state next week for a great cause.
The second annual Spokes For Hope ride, which begins in Fort Kent next Wednesday, Sept. 1 and ends in Kittery Sunday, Sept. 5, is a fundraiser for four cancer organizations – the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing, Children’s Hospital Boston and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
“I wanted to raise awareness, but it turned into something much bigger,” said one of the riders, Stephanie Caverhill of Caribou. “Last year’s ride was really moving as we had some people leave money on the vehicle windshields while we were dining and others shout to us from vehicles their appreciation for what we were doing.”
Caverhill is being joined on this year’s ride by Aroostook County residents Jonathan Kelley, Kyle Washington, Brent Jepson, Dan Jandreau, Brent Grass and Melanie Stewart. Driving support vehicles are Penny McHatten and Denise Young.
The event consists of approximately 400 miles in five days, with overnight stops taking place in Smyrna, Bangor, Augusta and Portland.
Kelley came up with the idea last year and pitched it to four friends – Caverhill, Washington, Stewart and Jeff Bennett.
“It marked five years since my father’s passing from cancer and my uncle had just been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma,” Kelley said, “and I wanted to do something to help with the cause. We all love to bike and several had wanted to take the trip from Kittery to Maine, so it was a great way to piggyback it with something bigger.”
According to the Spokes for Hope web site, each team member is covering their own expenses, with 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the cancer organizations.
For information on how to donate to the effort, visit the web site www.spokesforhope.com or call Kelley at 418-356-6493.
