For the 20th straight year in September 2016, bikers and hikers in Lititz went the extra mile for foster and adoptive children and the families who care for them.
The annual COBYS Bike and Hike was held on a Sunday afternoon in mid-September at the Lititz Church of the Brethren. The event raises money and awareness for COBYS Family Services, a Lititz-based nonprofit ministry that supports foster care, adoption and family life education.
Four ways to take part
Participants could choose from four events:
- A three-mile walk
- A 10-mile bicycle ride
- A 25-mile bicycle ride
- The 65-mile Dutch Country Motorcycle Ride, which in 2016 crossed the Susquehanna River into York County
The mix made the event accessible to families with young children as well as serious cyclists and motorcycle clubs.
Big goals, long history
Over its first 19 years, the Bike and Hike had raised more than $1.1 million. In 2015, about 500 participants raised $118,000. For the 20th event, organizers set a goal of $120,000.
How it works
Walkers and bicyclists paid a $25 registration fee and then gathered pledges from sponsors. Anyone who raised $25 or more in pledges did not have to pay the fee. Motorcycle registration was $35 per cycle, with passengers riding for $25. Participants could register on the day of the event.
Every registered participant received a free T-shirt, ice cream and refreshments, and a chance at a door prize. Those who reached higher fundraising levels earned additional prizes.
Something for spectators
Organizers stressed that people did not need to ride or walk to help. A silent auction ran throughout the afternoon, and visitors were welcome to stop by and bid. A WJTL radio personality provided live reports from the event, adding to the festival atmosphere.
About COBYS
COBYS Family Services works with children who need safe, stable homes and with the families who step up to provide them. Its programs include foster care, adoption services, post-adoption support and family life education across south-central Pennsylvania.
The organization has long been a familiar part of the Lititz community, and the Bike and Hike is one of its signature fundraisers. Funds raised help cover services that government contracts do not fully pay for, including training and support for foster and adoptive parents.
A community tradition
Two decades in, the Bike and Hike had become a fall tradition for many local families, church groups and riding clubs. The rolling farm roads of northern Lancaster County make for scenic routes, and the post-ride ice cream has become part of the appeal.
LititzDailyNews.com covered earlier editions of the event, including the 2014 ride, when supporters likewise went the extra mile for COBYS.
Why foster and adoptive families need support
Foster parents take children into their homes on short notice, often after a crisis, and adoptive families can face challenges for years after a placement. Training, respite care, counseling and peer support groups help those families stay strong, and they are among the services that community fundraising helps make possible. Volunteers at events like the Bike and Hike often include foster and adoptive parents themselves, along with young people who grew up in care.
Getting ready to ride
Organizers encouraged riders to bring helmets, water and sunscreen, and to arrive early to register and pick up T-shirts before the start. Walkers and families with strollers were welcome on the shorter route, and volunteers marked turns along the way.
Learn more
At the time, those interested in the event could visit the COBYS Bike and Hike web page or contact Director of Development Don Fitzkee at 717-656-6580.
This story was originally published on LititzDailyNews.com in September 2016 and has been updated for our archive.