Great Lakes Courier: Night Ride on the Towpath Trail on June 2 to benefit Ronald McDonald House

From the June 2012 issue of the Great Lakes Courier:

Enjoy two-wheeled fun to help one very special home at the 3rd annual Ronald McDonald House Night Ride on the Towpath Trail sponsored by Century Cycles on Saturday, June 2, at 8 p.m.

It is a 12-mile moonlit bicycle ride that starts at Thornburg Station in Valley View (8111 Rockside Road, at the intersection of Canal and Rockside roads, next to Yours Truly restaurant) and is Century Cycles’ only Towpath Night Ride in Cuyahoga County.

The cost is $20 per person in advance until May 31 or $25 per person for night-of registration. All of the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. To register (and for more information and riding tips), visit www.centurycycles.com/goto/RMH.

All skill levels and ages are welcome to participate in this casual ride (not race). Bicyclists must have their own bicycle and wear a helmet. A bicycle headlight is also required; the Towpath Trail is unlit at night and very dark. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. Plan to arrive a little early to make sure your bike is ready to go and you have a chance to enjoy the pre-ride festivities.

At 7 p.m., attendees can check in, register for a pre-ride raffle, and Century Cycles mechanics will be conducting free pre-ride bicycle safety checks. At 8 p.m., the ride will depart south on the Towpath Trail, to enjoy the nocturnal sights and sounds of the area’s most popular bicycle path. Bicyclists will ride six miles, enjoy snacks and beverages at the ride’s turnaround point at the Station Road Bridge Trailhead, and then bicycle back to the ride’s starting point.

Every Night Rider can make a difference. The advance registration fee of $20 is the same amount families are asked to donate nightly to stay at the Ronald McDonald House while their children are receiving medical care from nearby hospitals, although families are never turned away due to inability to pay (and on average it actually costs the House over $80 per day for a family to stay).

Never biked a Night Ride? Visit www.centurycycles.com/goto/nightrides for the complete 2012 Night Ride schedule, tips on riding one, and photos and videos from past rides.

The Ronald McDonald House® of Cleveland, Inc. supports families whose children receive treatment at area medical centers by providing a home-like environment and essential resources and services. Since 1979, the House has been a home away from home for over 31,000 families who have needed to stay close to their hospitalized child.