Sunday, June 24, 2018

Welcome to the 6th annual Seven Lakes Ride to “Pedal for Patients” in Stafford Springs, CT!

Nerac Earth, a nonprofit cycling club in Tolland, CT., is pleased to invite everyone to come out and participate in the 6th annual Seven Lakes Ride, a fund-raising bicycle ride to be held on Sunday, June 25, 2017.  The proceeds of The Seven Lakes Ride will benefit patients of the John DeQuattro Cancer Center in Manchester, CT.

The Seven Lakes Ride is the brainchild of a Nerac Earth club member and Hartford Hospital radiation therapist, Pete LaValley. Over the past few years he watched the economic woes that we all face hit his patients particularly hard. Volunteer numbers fell as gas prices rose, and in one instance, one of his patients was diagnosed with cancer, laid off from work, lost his medical benefits, lost his home and had to move in with an elderly parent and struggle to find money to buy food, gas and medications. This is just one of the many unfortunate stories that he would see and hear about in his daily work day. “I felt bad for these people who had worked their whole lives to become victim to a terrible disease that consumes their savings, quality of life and the golden years that we all hope for,” LaValley explained.

This is what inspired Pete to design a charity cycling event that would raise money to help the patients where he works, Radiation Oncology at the John DeQuattro Cancer Center in Manchester, CT. The goal is to raise money through sponsorships, donations and participant registrations to help ease the stressful situation that these cancer patients face with making ends meet, so they can concentrate on beating their disease. Proceeds from The Seven Lakes Ride will help eligible patients by providing items such as gas, groceries and medications.

The ride will begin and end at the Stafford High School in Stafford Springs, CT. There will be a 20, 25, 45 and a 62 mile route to choose from. The 62 mile ride travels through the charming rural towns of Willington, Ashford, Staffordville, Union, and Woodstock, then heads into the quaint southeastern Massachusetts towns of Sturbridge, Holland, and Wales before returning to Stafford. The 25 mile ride travel along the quiet country roads of Stafford, Staffordville and Union. We are glad to announce a flatter 20 and 45 mile route this year as well. These new routes are designed to accommodate cyclists who found our 25 and 65 mile routes too challenging.

All routes are fully supported and there will be multiple rest stops stocked with food, drinks and water.  After the ride, there will be a raffle for some great prizes and lunch will be served.  So come out and “Pedal for Patients” with us — you don’t want to miss it!!  Details follow:

Date:	Sunday, June 24, 2018
Time:	65 mile 8:00am start – $35   45 mile 9:00am start – $35   25 mile 9:30am start – $25                 20 mile 10:00am start – $25

Registration:  7:30am to 10:00am.

• Pre-register and save $10!  
• Day of ride registration will be an additional $10 for each ride so $35 for the 20 and 25 miler, $45 for the 62 and 45 miler so please preregister to save $10.  
• This is a USA Cycling permitted event. Helmets must be worn and approved by the CPSC or US DOT standards and participants should ride with a tube, tire levers, and patch kit to address mechanical issues during the ride.

For more information, email neracearth@nerac.com or visit our website at http://www.sevenlakesride.com

Get your Seven Lakes Ride cycling gear

About Nerac Earth Cycling

Nerac Earth Cycling Club actively supports the sport of bicycle riding in the community; we lead rides for cyclists of all ages and skill levels, participate in trail work to improve the trails in our area, share our biking knowledge and skills with new cyclists, and recruit new cyclists into the sport. We have over 75 active members and support many charity rides across Connecticut by participating as a club.

Thank you,

Your friends at Nerac Earth Cycling Club

Directions

Ride starts at Stafford High School, 145 Orcuttville Rd, Stafford Springs, CT 06076

COMING FROM THE NORTH (MASS)

Take RT. 91 South to Exit 47 East. Take RT. 190 East for approximately 15 miles until you enter the town of Stafford. You will pass Johnson Memorial Hospital on the left, the intersection of TR. 190 and 30 (at a white church) and the West Stafford Shool. Take the next left (RT. 319) at Chelles 50’s Car Hop Diner. This will be Orcuttville RD. Go straight, over some railroad tracks to a stop light. Go straight up a small hill. The High School is on the right.

COMING FROM THE WEST (HARTFORD AREA)

From I84: Take RT. 84 East to Exit 70. At the bottom of the ramp, take a left. Follow RT. 32 North into the center of Stafford. Go straight past the rotary (Stafford Savings Bank will be on the left) onto Furnace Ave. Follow this street to the end, and at the stop sign (approximately 3 miles), take a sharp left onto Orcuttville RD.-RT. 319.Go straight for approximately one and a half miles. Stafford High School will be on the left on a curve.

OR

From 190 East: Take 190 East to Orcuttville Road (RT. 319), just past West Stafford Elementary School.  Take a left onto Orcuttville Road.  Drive straight through intersection of Orcuttville Road and RT. 32 (traffic light).  Stafford High School will be on the right at the curve.

COMING FROM THE EAST (BOSTON/WORCESTER/STURBRIDGE AREA)

Take RT. 84 East to Exit 73, at the end of the ramp, take a right onto RT 190 West to the center of Stafford. Take a right at the flagpole onto Furnace Ave. Follow this street to the end, and at the stop sign (approximately 3 miles), take a sharp left onto Orcuttville RD.-RT. 319. Go straight for approximately one and a half miles. Stafford High School will be on the left on a curve.

COMING FROM THE SOUTH (NORWICH AREA)

Follow RT. 32 North into the center of Stafford. Go straight past the rotary (Stafford Savings Bank will be on the left) onto Furnace Ave. Follow this street to the end, and at the stop sign (approximately 3 miles), take a sharp left onto Orcuttville RD. RT. 319.Go straight for approximately one and a half miles. Stafford High School will be on the left on a curve.