Valley Community Development to Host Seventh Annual Pedal Poker Ride

 In Client Press Releases

Event is a fundraiser for the 30-year-old nonprofit

NORTHAMPTON—Valley Community Development is calling all bicycle riders to “Bike for Community” in its Seventh Annual Pedal Poker Ride on Sunday, Oct. 1, starting at 9 a.m. with courses ranging from 10 to 45 miles, at Look Memorial Park in Florence.

The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary year and has launched a $400,000 fundraising goal to help it act on goals outlined in a five-year strategic plan.

Individuals are welcome to sign up to ride in the race, during which bicyclists pick up five cards at different locations along the route and compete with them in a poker hand to win prizes. The grand prize is a $500 Martha’s Vineyard getaway.

The registration fee for the 45-mile bicycle ride is $60, and the suggested start time—depending on the rider’s speed—is 10 a.m.; the 25-mile bicycle ride has a suggested started of 11:30 a.m., and registration is $35. For the 10-mile bicycle ride, the cost is $35 and suggested start time is noon. The cost of registration includes a meal and a local brew.

Food from the Mothership Food Truck and beer from Berkshire Brewing Company will be available. SAG support for riders who are fatigued, injured or have problems with their bicycle will be provided by Speed & Sprocket Cycle Works of Holyoke and bike adjustments prior to the ride will be offered by both Pedal People Co-op Inc. of Northampton and Speed & Sprocket.

Riders are welcome to register in advance at pedalpokerride.com/index.php/register/ or on the day of the ride, one hour before the start time of the course of their choosing.

To view the course for the ride, visit pedalpokerride.com/index.php/maps/.

For more information, please call Julia Zegarra at 413.586.5855 x170, email jz@valleycdc.com or visit www.valleycdc.com.

Valley Community Development seeks to empower individuals with low and moderate incomes by developing affordable housing, encouraging homeownership and offering small business assistance to help individuals create sustainable employment.

The next few years of the organization’s future is outlined in a strategic plan developed by its board in 2016. The goals are: to expand its geographic reach, create deeper community connections and assist more new homebuyers and small business owners. Valley Community Development also plans to develop over 200 new apartments in the Valley, starting as soon as this fall, when it will break ground on The Lumber Yard, at which it is creating 55 affordable family apartments in Northampton.

For more information about Valley Community Development or its five-year plan, visit valleycdc.com.

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