Known for its pancake breakfasts, the East Windsor Lions Club is going down a new road with the Tour de East Windsor, a non-competitive bike ride this fall.
The group hopes the September 30 ride will become an annual fundraising event.
Mike Kreuzer, ride coordinator and Lions Club member, said the members were discussing ideas for events and he has experience with organizing bike ride fundraisers.
“We thought it would be an interesting new avenue for the East Windsor Lions,” Kreuzer said. He has been involved in fundraising for about 25 years.
In 2002, his son, Michael Kreuzer Jr., was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease. In 2004, he started a cross-country ride to raise money for ALS, riding almost 1,300 miles. He said over the years he has raised about $50,000 for different causes.
The “Tour de East Windsor – A Bike Ride for Sight” offers participants options, a 10-mile ride, a 20-mile ride or a 5-mile family ride. Early registration, by Aug. 15, is $15, or $20 from Aug. 15 to Sept. 16, but then riders commit to fundraising at least $50 for the 10-mile ride or $100 for the 20-mile ride. For the 5-mile ride, a family can register $30, riders younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult rider. Riders who don’t want to commit to fundraising also can register for $30 at any time.
All routes will start and end at in East Windsor. There will be refreshments and entertainment at the park. The ride is non-competitive, but there will be awards for those who raise $250 by Sept. 15, and those who raise $500 or more by Sept. 15.
The race will be Sunday, Sept. 30. Rider check-in will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The 20-mile ride will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the 10-mile ride at 11:30 a.m. and the 5-mile family ride at noon.
“We are hoping for at least 100 riders,” Kreuzer said.
Sign-up forms are available in many businesses and other locations throughout East Windsor and Broad Brook. More information also is available on the Lion’s website at e-clubhouse.org/sites/eastwindsorct
He said the community is supportive of the Lions Club, and he hopes this event will be another way the community can be involved.
The club has sponsored eye screenings available to the public; provided large print books to the ; and provided eyeglasses to residents in need. In addition, the East Windsor Lions Club has supported CT Lions Eye Research Center at Yale University; CT Lions Low Vision Centers and Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. The club also awards annual scholarships to high school graduates.
The East Windsor Lions Club started in 1953 with 23 members. Since then, the group has been a strong and active service club. The club hosts dinner meetings the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Scout Hall, except during July and August.
For more information, contact Kreuzer at 860-303-5733 or 860-623-5425 or Peter Nevers at 860-604-8538.
