More than 60 stationary bicyclists rode more than 17,000 miles in February, earning the Lebanon Valley Family YMCA top honors in a global competition to raise money and awareness for the Y.
The Lebanon Valley team, made up of 64 cyclists for this year’s event, rode 17,100.2 miles during the month-long contest, according to the Rally for the Y website hosted by Blu Goji. The local cyclists raised $22,495.52 for the cause.
Blue Goji, the manufacturer of the bike, gives participating YMCAs 10 cents for every mile their members ride during the month. Riders also collect sponsorships to support YMCA memberships for local youths.
According to a release, Lebanon Valley ranked first in miles ridden and third in money raised among competitors around the world. Six bicyclists on the local team this year rode more than 1,000 miles each in February, with five of them ranking among the top 10 for miles ridden in the world.
The No. 1 spot went to local competitor Jeff Carpenter, who rode over 1,600 miles in 28 days. According to the release, Carpenter was “pedaling and pedaling for hours each day! This is simply an amazing feat by little ole Lebanon, who competed against YMCAs more than triple their size.”
According to the Lebanon team’s page on the website, local rider Jim Smith led the pack in money raised, bringing in $2,481.24. Carpenter was next with $2,466.23, followed by Carolyn Haskell with $1,758.27 and Maureen Stegall with $1,465.12.
More than 30 local riders raised more than $100 each.
“Once again, the Lebanon riders led the world in miles ridden this year,” Phil Tipton, the CEO of the Lebanon Valley Family YMCA, said in the release. “They set a pace that no other YMCA across the country could keep up with. They are AMAZING!”
Tipton noted in the release that the money raised “will help our YMCA continue to provide financial assistance to families in Lebanon County for Y programs. This assistance helps with a multitude of things from our childcare programs, Freer Family Community Youth Center, Rock Steady Boxing Parkinson’s Disease Program and more.”
In total, 3,265 riders representing 138 teams rode 157,729.69 miles and raised $203,940.86.
This is the 10th annual Blu Goji Bike Rally, the release noted, and the Lebanon YMCA team has won for total miles in five of the last six years.
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