The combination start/finish line for the Timothy School Bike-a-thon was located in the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. The event managed to raise over $19,000 for Timothy Christian School. Tinkess Photo

INGLESIDE – There is nothing nicer on a warm, fall day, than to head off on your bicycle, rolling along amongst the leaves, under the bright, blue skies, the wind in your hair and the satisfaction of knowing that something so pleasant can also benefit so many.

Such was the case for the students, staff, parents, and grandparents of students who attend Timothy Christian School in Williamsburg. On Sat., Sept. 27, they held their annual bike-a-thon along portion of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail which stretches from the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary and the Long Sault Parkway.

Lorraine Harbers is the organizer of the event, and when she spoke to The Record around 11:00 a.m. and things were well underway.

“I think we have over 100 people here today,” said Harbers. “We have the kids, but we invite parents and grandparents and friends to come and bike with the kids as a school community. It’s something that we enjoy doing. It’s such a beautiful day.”

Harbers explained how the route is something that anyone could follow, riding for as far as they feel comfortable. “They just go from here and then we have a checkpoint at Farren Park, and then another at long Sault. They just go back and forth, as many times as they like.”

As fundraisers go, this one is quite successful, with the funds raised going to Timothy Christian School. Harbers stated that they had raised over $19,000, thanks to the efforts of the approximately 20 teams involved.

“I think there’s over 25 families that participated,” added Harbers. “And there’s a beautiful trail and it’s open, so it’s just a nice day to be here for the day enjoying God’s creation, enjoying that and building community. And we’re going to finish with Dundas Dairy Producers donated ice cream sandwiches and chocolate milk for a good energy boost at the end. We’re going to pull that out in the minute for the kids to kind of polish off.”

Participants are encouraged to do the 10 kilometers, they just do what they can. According to Harbers, many older kids do it several times.

As an added bonus, the kids start with a key chain with a Lego piece on it, and when they stop at Farran Park, and Long Sault, they receive the parts to complete the figure. It’s just another way to keeping their interest, but it also gives them a momento of the day, and how good it can feel to do something worthwhile that benefits the community as well as the individual.