Community “Spins” for Three Good Causes

After cycling 2,500 miles down the Pacific Coast for two months, 70-year-old Bob Lee spent Saturday, Nov. 3 working up a sweat again. He joined dozens of local residents at Good Shepherd Health and Fitness Center for instructor-led spinning sessions to raise more money for his Ride for 3 Reasons. The event raised an extra $9,000 (including a $5,000 individual donation) for three charities: ALS, cancer and hospice.

Lee’s West Coast ride, from Vancouver to Mexico, has raised roughly $638,000, which will be split evenly between the three charities.

“Once again, this community has come together selflessly for others in need,” said Lee. “We are so lucky to live in place where people give so freely of their time and resources to help others.”

Along with two other marathon charity bike rides, Lee has now completed cycling the circumference of the United States. In 2001, he rode 3,523 miles across the southern border of the U.S and in 2007, he rode 6,500 miles up the East Coast and across the northern border, raising nearly $390,000. In total, he’s completed more than 12,000 miles around the country.

“This one was the most challenging yet,” says Lee. “Not only am I a little older, but there was 130,000 feet of ascent. I found strength in those uphill rides thinking about my friends with ALS. They remind me to never take for granted the physical things we do each day.”

Lee would like to remind people that donations are still be accepted on the charity’s website at www.3reasons.org.  With $179,328 in the Pacesetter Matching Fund, the group needs to raise $89,664 to release those funds.

For more information on Lee's journey, check out his daily blog posts on the website.