RICHMOND, Ind. — About 1,400 children will receive shoes from the 2022 ReidRide.
The event, which was Aug. 20, raises funds for the Shoes for Kids initiative, with every $20 helping buy a pair of shoes, according to a news release. ReidRide partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, Amigos, Girls Inc. and The Common Good of Preble County to distribute the shoes in Wayne, Randolph and Fayette counties in Indiana and Preble County in Ohio.
"Each person who participates in ReidRide or donates directly is helping a local kid in need," said Sharrie Harlin Davis, community engagement manager for Reid Health and the Shoes for Kids coordinator. "A new pair of shoes might not seem like much, but it means a lot to those kids and has a large impact on their lives."
ReidRide has surpassed $315,000 in net revenue and distributed more than 20,000 pairs of shoes during its 14 years.
About 315 riders registered for this year's event that featured a new 30-mile course and the traditional 15-mile and 8-mile routes. About a third of the participants selected the longest route.
"We're thrilled to have the continued support from the community for this event," said Reid Health Foundation Director Megan Broeker. "It was great to see everyone come out for a morning of fun."
This year's ReidRide is the last for Randy Kirk, who has overseen each of the 14 events. He will retire during September.
"The greatest satisfaction is to see the sustained community ownership of ReidRide for so many years, with our friends, families, associates, officers, firemen, and first responders coming together as one. Even through the pandemic, no one missed a beat," Kirk said.
"It's such a privilege to connect our community's compassionate heart and support to meet the needs of others, in this case, to provide shoes for kids. Every rider, sponsor, donor, and volunteer knows they're helping this noble cause, and that's philanthropy at its finest."
Hill's Pet Nutrition raised $915 through events and donations to win the ReidRide Challenge among corporate partners.
Next year's ReidRide is scheduled for Aug. 19, 2023, but donations may be made any time through the ReidRide.org website.