The Bainbridge Island Kiwanis Club is holding its inaugural Summer Challenge Charity Bike event on Saturday, Aug. 28.

Since 1954, the Kiwanis Club has supported important programs for children and youth on the island, as well as providing people power for numerous community activities.

We support human values with our Citizen and Educator of the Year awards, and the Battle Point Distinguished Citizen Memorial.

We have advertised this ride across the state and nationally through the Internet and have at least two riders coming from Washington, D.C. We have placed posters in most bike and multi-sport shops through out the state.

Charity dollars are stretched thin in this economy, and we hope to bring dollars from off of the island to support our many nonprofit organizations.

The ride starts and finishes at the Winslow Waterfront Park with registration at 7:30 a.m.; the course closes at 4 p..m.

Riders may choose between a 35-mile island loop or a more moderate 15-mile ride around the southern part of the island.

There will be free food at two rest stops, plus concessions for sale at the finish – provided by Bainbridge Island Rope Skippers and the Seabold Church Youth Group.

See our website (www.bikiwanis.org) for ride details, entry costs, registration and other specifics. Pre-registration can be made online (www,active.com) or with mail-in print forms.

Proceeds will go to the Bainbridge Island Kiwanis Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization, to be used for youth-oriented projects. See our website for a partial list.

To volunteer as helpers along the course or for other jobs, call Fred Grimm at 842-3573.

Fred Grimm

Event director