Cubs owner leads charity bike tour from Wrigley Field

to Miller Park

 

By Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel

 

Far different from the stereotype of obnoxious Cubs fans, a horde of Chicagoans led by team owner Todd Ricketts will roll into Milwaukee on Saturday as global do-gooders.

 

Combining bikes and baseball, the group of 650 will pedal 100 miles from Wrigley Field to Miller Park and raise roughly $300,000 for World Bicycle Relief, a charity that distributes heavy-duty bicycles in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Ricketts and his siblings, the offspring of TD Ameritrade founder Joseph Ricketts, bought a majority interest in the Cubs in 2009.

 

Todd Ricketts was already owner of the Higher Gear Bike Shops in Wilmette and Highland Park and a member of the board of directors of World Bicycle Relief.

 

“As a kid, I didn’t have a bike, so I’ve been somewhat obsessed with it as an adult,” Ricketts said.

 

F.K. Day, a founder and vice president of SRAM Corp., founded World Bicycle Relief with his wife in 2005.

 

SRAM is the world’s second-largest maker of bike components, and the charity Day created ranks 12th on Barron’s list of the most effective philanthropic organizations.

 

“World Bicycle Relief programs have a simple resonance with cyclists,” Day said. “They get the impact of walking vs. riding.

 

“For us to be able to communicate the importance of transportation enriches their experience on the bike and possibly motivates them to get involved with bikes in developing countries.”

 

Day recognized the lifesaving potential of bicycles during a trip to Sri Lanka following the tsunami in 2004. A visit to Zambia in 2006 solidified his belief that providing heavy-duty, easy-to-maintain bicycles to people in third-world countries could change lives.

 

“To millions of people in Africa, a quality, sturdy bike is the difference between getting to school, getting health care, making a living or not,” he said. “It is a simple, yet powerful tool that can help lift the most in need out of poverty.”

 

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UPDATING.....

Bahati Foundation at Turin Bikes in Chicago, IL

with LEEDA Services.

 

"I met these guys and they really helped humble me even more. All dealing with mental and physical disabilities yet with LEEDA services, they're learning to walk through life as normal citizens. Now some are inspired to race bikes. Turin Bike Shop is located in Evanston, IL btw"

-Rahsaan Bahati

We are the Sho-air / Rock 'n Road Junior Development Team from Orange County, California.  We currently have 36 junior members ranging in age from 10 to 20.   In January, Mr. Bahati graciously accepted our invitation to attend our two-day junior road camp out in Santa Maria.  His presence there was an inspiration to the 21 juniors on our team who participated.   Mr. Bahati assisted with drills, coached one of our time trial teams on the state road race course, and participated in our team ride to Solvang.   To have a top pro rider like Mr. Bahati with us was truly amazing.   Our juniors thoroughly enjoyed the camp and Mr. Bahati's instruction, coaching and guidance.   He even took the time to rotate among all of the juniors to chat, one-on-one, with each of them during our team ride to Solvang.  All got the chance to ask questions about what it's like to be a pro rider.

 

Thanks in part to Mr. Bahati's influence at our great camp, our team raced strong in 2011.  We finished the season having won first place in the SCNCA (USA Cycling's regional association).  We're the best junior team out of over 50 local teams!  

 

We GREATLY appreciate Mr. Bahati's assistance... and all the juniors are all hopeful he can help us again in 2012.

 

 

 

The 28th annual University Medical Center El Tour de Tucson presented by Diamond Ventures marked the 14th year that Tu Nidito was the primary beneficiary of this spectacular event. Last year, El Tour de Tucson raised more than $240,000 for Southern Arizona’s children whose lives have been impacted by serious medical conditions or grief. El Tour makes up 25% of our annual budget each year. Without El Tour, Tu Nidito would not be what it is today.

 

El Tour de Tucson’s XXVIII’s theme, “the ride of a lifetime,” means so much to Tu Nidito families. They are amidst the journey of their lifetimes, whether it is battling a serious illness or experiencing the pain of losing a loved one. Cyclists who ride in El Tour de Tucson join them on their journey. They make the challenges they face a little less difficult, as Tu Nidito is able to remain a pillar of strength through whatever trials they encounter along the way.

 

Three years ago, Tu Nidito created the Ride for a Child program as a way to thank El Tour de Tucson cyclists for participating in an event that comprises so much of our livelihood. Each cyclist is paired with and rides in honor of a Tu Nidito child. The night before El Tour, cyclists and Tu Nidito children have the opportunity to meet.

 

Ten-year-old Alexa met the person who rode for her, professional cyclist Rahsaan Bahati. They spent time creating a special El Tour Wish Flag and learning more about each other. Sacha, Alexa’s mother, said that the evening was one that she and her daughter will always remember. “Tu Nidito has been such a life saver for Alexa and I since her brother passed away,” she says. “We are very touched and appreciative that Rahsaan chose to Ride for a Child.”

Professional cyclist, Rahsaan Bahati came to Tucson AZ to race in the internationally-renowned El Tour de Tucson, a 109 mile race encircling the greater Tucson area. Mr. Bahati was racing on the behalf of the El Tour non-profit beneficiaries, Tu Nidito. On the eve before the race, Mr. Bahati visited with Tucson-based El Grupo Youth Cycling to speak about his roots growing up in Compton, over-coming challenges, setting goals and becoming a world-class professional cyclist.

 

Photos: Kathleen Dreier of Esens Photography

 

Houston Elementary school was very privileged to have you come speak to our 4th, 5th and 6th graders last spring. The students at our school were really able to relate to the things that happened in your life to their own. It’s so important for them to see someone as successful as you come from a position that may be similar to theirs. You had all of our students attention right from the start and helped show them that anything is possible. Teachers came up to me for weeks after and said how much they enjoyed your presentation and how it’s so important for our students here to meet people like you. Thanks so much for coming to Houston Elementary!