A bike rally will be the vehicle to provide services that “create opportunities and make communities better,” said Dean Bruewer, one of the organizers.
The inaugural Great American Bike Rally was held Oct. 19, starting and ending at the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields on Groh Lane in Fairfield. The fundraiser had a goal of generating $10,000, and Bruewer said the goal was “easily exceeded,” though an exact figure was unknown.
He said the proceeds will be divided between the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields and the Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton, organizations that “create opportunities for those kids.”
He said 70 cyclists participated in the event that benefited from “great” fall weather.
“Overall it was a tremendous activity,” said Bruewer, who co-chaired the event with Bill Roesch, a fellow avid cyclist. “We hope to turn this into a major regional event.”
Bike riders started their treks, and they had five options, which ranged from a one-mile loop from to Waterworks Park and back up to a 20-mile loop from Rentschler Forest and back.
When the committee gathers to review the first-year event, Bruewer said it will consider how to “grow it, make it better with a longer route.”
If the bike trail between Hamilton and Trenton is connected, cyclists could ride all the way to Dayton, Xenia and Troy, he said.
“The trail is such an asset,” Bruewer said. “If it’s connected, we could engage a while different level of cyclists.”
Kim Nuxhall, the Miracle League Field’s volunteer CEO and son of Joe Nuxhall, said the bike trail is one of the county’s “greatest assets” and it’s “cool” to see it being used to give back to the community.
“I’m always appreciative for people reaching out to us and supporting our mission,” he said. “We can never do this without the community’s support.”
Staff writer Michael D. Pitman contributed to this report.
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