Family Bike Dash supports We R-1, 5/30/2015

25 May Family Bike Dash supports We R-1, 5/30/2015

Pedal power.

Or how  bikes are changing the world one stroke at a time. That was one of a number of leitmotifs at Telluride Mountainfilm, where right out of the gate at Symposium, a young woman nearly stole the show with the teaser for her work-in-process, but soon-to-be feature-length documentary, “Afghan Bikes.” The film tells the story of a group of brave Afghan women who challenge gender barriers and put their lives at risk for the simple pleasure of riding a bike.

For them, riding a bike is instant empowerment in a country where women are at best second-class citizens.

It is empowerment for Frederick Ndabaramiye too.

Frederick has no hands – they were cut off by Rwandan militants when he was 15 – but launched the cycling team that today rides through rural villages to spread the message that disability is not synonymous with inability.

And in all their films, which include promotional docs for World Bicycle Relief, Jacob and Isaac prove over and over again that bicycles can be powerful tools for change.

Taking the metaphor to a local level and working, ahem, in tandem with the nonprofit We R-1, bikes get the wheels rolling on a better education for Telluride youth.

The Family Bike Dash is an event founded two years ago by Telluride Foundation 2014 Citizen of the Year Kristin Holbrook (of Two Skirts) to support We R-1, the non-profit that is the result of two education-focused organizations: Telluride Education Foundation and the Telluride PTSO (Parent/Teacher/Student Organization). The two entities merged to create one united organization that supports education in the Telluride region, specifically striving to expand and enrich academic, artistic, and leadership opportunities for students and reward and recognize teachers. We R-1’s efforts take shape in a variety of ways including experiential education trips, magnet grants for teachers, college scholarships, and community events.

“I started it because We R 1 asked me to do a fundraiser for moms and sons and I can’t say no. Ha! Kinda true. There is a father/daughter dance in the winter, but We R 1 wanted a summer event, a mother/son softball game, because I’m a big softball player and I coached tee ball. But the request  became logistically complicated, so we came up with an easier solution, a bike ride. Last year, our first, was a small success, but we decided to open up the event to entire families instead of just mothers and sons. There were a lot of daughters who wanted to ride, too.” 

So get those bikes tuned-up for the Family Bike Dash for kids in kindergarten through 6th grade. The dash takes place Saturday, May 30. starting 9:30 a.m. at the high school, goes along on the bike path to Lawson Hill and back and includes four fun interactive stations along the way. (Helmets are required and water bottles are recommended as water will be provided.)

Registration takes place 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the high school parking lot. The cost is $20 per families of any si