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Tour de Livingston will raise United Way funds

Registration is under way for Livingston County's first charity bicycling event, Tour de Livingston, with proceeds to benefit the Livingston County United Way.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, starting and ending at Mount Brighton Ski Area, 4141 Bauer Road.

"As a service organization, we really wanted to support the United Way,'' said Kim Dane, president of the Howell Rotary Club, which is organizing the event.

"They help so many organizations throughout Livingston County ... helping more people than we could ourselves.''

Four looped courses will take riders from the popular ski hill in Genoa Township through nearby neighborhoods as they bike 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles. A Family Fun Ride, covering five to eight miles, also will be available.

"We designed it to take place during the peak colors. Riders will see some the prettiest routes in Livingston County and also be supporting a good cause,'' said Peter Bowen, a Howell Rotarian and avid bicyclist.

He, along with cycling partners and fellow Rotarians Jeff Hansen and Jim Gilligan, brought the fundraising idea to the club earlier this year.

"It has been a very successful Rotary fundraiser throughout the United States,'' said Dane, "and since we have the cyclists, and since we have the beautiful countryside ... we thought we'd try something different'' than pancake breakfast fundraisers done in years past.

Former Howell Rotary Club President Ron Hingst, who with Dane and Bowen has planned this event, hopes to register 250 to 350 cyclists for this inaugural ride and raise up to $100,000 for United Way.

Bowen is aiming higher, at 500 riders.

The event is expected to draw cyclists from around the state and is posted on the League of Michigan Bicyclists Web page, at www.lmb.org. Members of cycling clubs in Ann Arbor, Flint and Lansing also are being notified.

Bowen, who has cycled in organized rides for 10 years, is excited about bringing this event to his own backyard. Attending 10 to 12 events each year, Bowen puts a lot of miles on his car getting to the rides.

The closest cycling event to date has been an American Diabetes Association benefit ride, which starts at the nearby Island Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County.

"The benefit of this ride is that it will bring attention to the Livingston County United Way and to their fall campaign,'' Bowen said.

Vendors also will be on site to showcase their cycling gear.

Laurie Humphrey can be reached at lhumphrey@livingstoncommunitynews.com or 810-844-2003.