In an effort to ensure every child, regardless of ability, has a bicycle to ride, the Chatham-Kent Cycling Festival has returned for its second year.
The festival kicked off on Saturday in front of the Children s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent with a number of bicycle rides touring through the South Kent countryside and the Lake Erie shoreline. The festival also held an interactive demonstration of adapted bicycles and a bicycle safety rodeo hosted by the Chatham-Kent Police Service.
Rand MacIntosh, an organizer with the Chatham-Kent Cycling Group, says around 135 people attended this year's event.
"(The festival) creates awareness and helps educate the cyclists so they can be safe while they're riding," he says. "It would be nice if we could educate some of the motorists too, but it'll come."
All proceeds raised by the Chatham-Kent Cycling Festival go towards the Children's Treatment Centre s "Freedom Riders " adapted bicycling program. The program supports the purchase and maintenance of adapted bicycles for developmentally challenged children.
Last year, the festival raised $10,128 in support of the bike program.
