Salmon Arm’s big-hearted volunteers, businesses, community organizations and cyclists hosted the 18th annual Bike For Your Life Century Ride on Saturday, Sept. 19.
More than 600 people registered for this year’s ride.
Cyclists had a choice of one of four route distances: 100-kilometres, 75-km, 35-km and 10-km.
Those who braved the rain-soaked roads retuned to a warm, mostly sunny afternoon at Blackburn Park for a barbecue lunch, good conversation, live local entertainment and a cyclists celebration with draw prizes.
The ride’s event host committee presented an initial cheque of $4,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank volunteer Loretta Young on behalf of all the cyclists, sponsors and supporters.
After expenses are totalled, a second cheque will be presented to the Food Bank and to the Shuswap Trail Alliance.
A total of $17,800 has been contributed to Salmon Arm’s Second Harvest Food Bank by cyclists since 2012.
Ride 2015 participants ranged in age from four to 81 years with a median age of 53.
About three-quarters of registered cyclists came from outside of the Shuswap.
Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops had the largest number of visiting cyclists.
Some came from as far away as Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver Island and southern California.
On-line registration for the Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 Salmon Arm Bike for Your Life Century Ride opens Monday morning, June 6, 2016 at the Bike For Your Life Century Ride website.