Mountains to Desert Bike Ride: New Finish

18 Sep Mountains to Desert Bike Ride: New Finish

This year marks the 12th Annual Mountains to the Desert Bike Ride, the main fundraiser for the Just For Kids Foundation. The ride takes place Saturday, September 26, 2015, with mileage options for road cyclists from 70 to 200. Most riders start in Telluride and finish in Gateway, CO, the perfect 100-mile sprint.

For the first time, the Mountains to the Desert Bike Ride concludes at the Gateway Community Center with tasty food catered by La Cocina de Luz.

The new finish location is ideal for riders, family and friends to hang out and wait for others to finish. There is ample bike parking, a great open room for dining, a grassy area to hang outside, a kid’s park, and plenty of car parking. Mike Pale will be performing throughout the day with a special guest, the Paradox Valley School Bluegrass Band.

The finish area showcases a small sponsor village and silent auction. The silent auction items will help support the fundraising side of the ride, with all profits going to the Just For Kids Foundation (JFK).

Each year, every dollar raised through participant fundraising before and during the ride is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Carstens Family Fund at the Denver Foundation. That money is then awarded to individuals and organizations that provide leadership opportunities for underprivileged regional youth, as well as organizations that promote self-sufficiency and responsibility.

Some of the noteworthy recipients from 2014 include: Ah Haa School for the Arts, Mountain Munchkins, Mountain Sprouts, Naturita Community Library, Norwood High School, Norwood Youth Organization, One to One San Miguel Mentoring, Paradox Valley School, Telluride Academy, Telluride Adaptive Sports, Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club, Watershed Education Program and West End Public Schools.

To see a full list, visit here.

For individuals looking to help the Just For Kids Foundation, but are unable to ride, Mountains to the Desert invites everyone to sponsor a cyclist. Donations can also be made online at m2dbikeride.com.

The ride is fully supported with aid stations along the route. It’s the perfect ride for beginner cyclists and professionals alike.

About Mountains to the Desert Bike Ride

The Mountains to Desert Bike Ride (M2D) is in its 12 year as the annual fundraising event for the Just For Kids Foundation. M2D offers road cyclists mileage options from 70 to 200, from the mountains of Telluride to the desert of Gateway, Colorado. Each dollar fundraised through the ride is matched by the Carstens Family Fund at the Denver Foundation.

For more information, visit www.m2dbikeride.com or email m2dbikeride@gmail.com.

About Just For Kids Foundation

JFK was created in 2000 by Bill Carstens, long-time Telluride resident, entrepreneur and philanthropist. JFK is funded by an endowment established by Mr. Carstens, the Carstens Family Fund at the Denver Foundation. Each year the endowment matches proceeds from the annual fundraiser, Mountains to the Desert Bike Ride (M2D) and private donations. Just For Kids serves children from birth through high school graduation throughout the San Miguel Watershed, including the towns of Telluride, Norwood, Nucla, Naturita, Paradox and all points in between. For more information, visit www.justforkidsfoundation.org or email info@justforkidsfoundation.org.