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The eighth annual Wheels for Meals Ride is soon approaching, and cyclists of all ages are invited to participate in the event as a team or as an individual.
The ride serves as a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels of Alameda County, a nonprofit that provides meals, safety checks and visits to homebound seniors in the region.
Registration is now open for the event, which will take place at Shadow Cliffs Regional Park at 2500 Stanley Blvd. on Oct. 21.
Cyclists can choose from three different routes and mileage levels, all with staggered starting times. The easier, more family-friendly 15-mile ride will begin at 9:00 a.m.; the moderate, 35-miler will start at 8:00 a.m. and the 70-mile ride (“adventuresome and challenging with steep climbs and fast descents,” according to organizers) begins at 7:00 a.m.
All routes are supported with SAG (Support and Gear) vehicles, rest stops, route markings and cue sheets.
After the ride, participants can join a celebratory barbecue lunch, with live entertainment and family-friendly activities.
Shadow Cliffs has a $6 parking fee per vehicle. Though a $300 fundraising minimum is suggested, the amount is not required in order to participate in the event. However, event registration does cost $45 for the 15-miler, $75 for the mid-length course and $85 for the long route.
As of Wednesday, the event had raised a little under $9,000.
Founded in 1987, the nonprofit Meals on Wheels of Alameda County now prepares nearly 2,200 meals to homebound seniors every delivery day via its five independent delivery programs. It’s one of 5,000 independently-run local programs across the country that are part of Meals on Wheels America.
According to the organization, the senior population is expected to double by 2050. Currently, over 10 million, or 1 in 6, seniors in the United States face the danger of hunger and more than 15 million (1 in 4) live in isolation. As an added bonus to meals, then, volunteers’ delivery trips often serve as a safety check to seniors living on their own.