Happy celebration at the River Ride. © Take The Magic Step
The Cyclists of the Beautiful Colorado-Eagle River Ride Say Thank You to the Children and Students of SOS Outreach
July 27, 2014
It was a nice summer morning in the Colorado Rockies—and the Colorado-Eagle River Ride was on its way. The morning clouds disappeared, the air was crisp, and we were looking forward to experiencing countless breathtaking views while riding the beautiful bike course.
The picturesque Rocky Mountains are the backdrop of the SOS Outreach fundraiser. © Take The Magic Step
About 700 cyclists chose to pedal either 100 miles, 100 kilometers (62 miles), or 42 miles. This year, the tireless organizers of the race, with the wonderful team around Arn Menconi, the founder of SOS Outreach, and Seth Ehrlich, the vice president of operations, moved the finish line up the hill to the Beaver Creek Landing in Avon.
What a great move it was, because after their long ride the cyclists could enjoy a festival atmosphere with great food, cold drinks, and live music—even if it meant climbing a hill up to the finish line. They were rewarded with heartfelt cheers and “Hellos” by the children, who had manned aid stations throughout the course to provide riders with all the ‘carbo-loading magic’ we needed.
This beautiful ride and the charity it presents achieved their 13th anniversary—and like many others, I am mesmerized by the goals and causes of SOS Outreach. The ride is its largest annual fundraiser, and helps to give underprivileged kids, urban and local, the chance to experience winter sports like snowboarding and skiing. And in summer, their Meet the Wilderness program introduces them to activities like rock climbing, hiking, and camping.
© Noble Sports
Children aged from 8 to 18, many of whom have never known anything but city streets, get transportation to the mountains, equipment, and clothing, and most of all love, care, and a more fulfilling outlook on life. Another fantastic part of the program is that adult mentors—known as “Sherpas”—teach the youngsters the SOS values of Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom, Compassion, and Humility.
On behalf of my team here at Take The Magic Step I salute the dedicated team of SOS Outreach and all the volunteers who helped to make the race so special again. We also thank the cyclists who rode this challenging and most beautiful course through the Colorado Rockies. And maybe next year when we come back again to celebrate the children and students of SOS Outreach, some of you might care to join us and share SOS Outreach’s motto: Spread the Love.
Have a wonderful summertime! See you soon on the trails and roads,
If you would like read more about this charity, please see the following links:
- SOS Outreach on the Take The Magic Step Website
- The official SOS Outreach Website
- Posted July 27, 2014
© Copyright 2014-2024 Uta Pippig and Take The Magic Step®. All Rights Reserved.
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