More than 60 riders turned out March 19 at the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. entrance to Flatwoods Wilderness Regional Park for another successful “Cycling for our Vets, Military & First Responders” — the third annual bicycle “rally” hosted by the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club.
“It was another great turnout,’’ says current club president and longtime member Valerie Casey, whose club meets Wednesdays at noon at Café Olé on Cross Creek Blvd. “We had a lot of new riders and interest, and more than last year. There were riders of all ages, and, as always, it benefited a great cause.”
This year’s event, which took off from Chili’s Grill & Bar, located at 17643 BBD Blvd. (just south of the BBD entrance to Flatwoods), raised $3,500 to help benefit the Navy Seal Foundation, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Support the Troops and the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center.
Romy and Gabriela Camargo, who run the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center (located at 10500 University Center Dr., south of E. Fowler Ave.) were on hand to encourage the riders, who had their choice of distances to bike — 4, 18 or 39 miles. Also participating again was long-time New Tampa resident and former Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk.
In three years, the event has attracted nearly 200 riders and raised about $18,000. “We’re already planning for next year’s event,’’ Casey says. “We’re hoping to tie it in with the return of the Taste of New Tampa.”
For more info about the great organizations that were the beneficiaries of this year’s bike ride, visit NavySealFoundation.org, HCFRFoundation.org, OurTroopsOnline.com or StayInStep.org. For more info about the New Tampa Noon Rotary, check out Facebook.com/NewTampaNoonRotary.
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