Cyclists raise funds for Habitat for Humanity
<p>The brother sister team of Heidi Kaminski and Todd Graham smile as they approach pie stop at mile marker 13 on Pipe Creek Road Saturday during last year's STOKR tour.</p>
<p>Jennifer Joss and Ken Anderson get set for the last 14 miles of the STOKR tour after fueling up at the pie stop on Pipe Creek Road Saturday, May 12, 2012.</p>
This weekend nearly 500 bicycle enthusiasts will flood to Libby to participate in the 22nd annual Scenic Tour of the Kootenai River bicycle tour, the year’s single largest fundraising event for Habitat for Humanity in south Lincoln County.
Riders in the annual event can choose one of two different paths on Saturday, a 45-mile route that goes up Lake Creek and Iron Creek in Troy and then back to Libby, or the 98-mile route that goes down U.S. Highway 2 through Troy and up Yaak River Road to Pipe Creek Road, which then rolls back to Libby. Sunday’s bonus ride, open to all participants, is a 35-mile trek up and around Libby Dam, with a special bonus added to this year’s route.
“What’s special about the ride on Sunday is that we’re routing the riders past the three newest Habitat homes on First Street, so they’ll get to see what they’ve been raising funds for,” said event organizer Susie Rice.
Rice said 475 riders are registered for the race this year, and the committee had to turn away an additional 132 riders due to lack of space. With last-minute drop-outs, Rice said she expects to see about 420 riders take to their bicycles Saturday morning.
“The amazing thing about STOKR is that we never advertise, but each year we get more riders,” Rice said.
The funds raised from the ride go to support the programs of Kootenai Valley Partners Habitat for Humanity. The group builds one home every two years for less fortunate individuals in south Lincoln County. In the years between building homes, the Kootenai Valley Partners have decided to participate in the Brush With Kindness program of Habitat for Humanity, in which Habitat volunteers help repair and maintain homes in the community for people unable to undertake repairs themselves.
Rice said 13 applicants have requested assistance through the Brush With Kindness program this year. The Family Selection Committee will decide which projects to undertake later this year.
Rice said the event is about more than raising funds for Habitat.
“It’s about more than Habitat,” she said. “It helps fill up the community. We’ll have people in our hotels, restaurants and shops. It’s an opportunity for folks to get involved and contribute.”