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Schools

10th Annual Mt. Charlie Challenge Raises Money for Scotts Valley Schools

Saturday's Mt. Charlie Challenge expanded this year to include a 100k ride as well as a live band and several new activities.

Over 145 bicyclists suited up and pedaled out of Sky Park on Saturday morning, for the 10th annual Mt. Charlie Challenge Fundraiser. The event included a 32, 66, and 100 mile bike race, and raised funds for the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation.

Last year's event raised $29,000 for Scotts Valley schools, and organizers hope that this year's event will raise around $40,000.

"The response is heartening," said Michael Rein, one of the co-chairs of the Mt. Charlie Challenge. "For the first time ever we have a 100 mile ride, chidrens' bike rides, a professional band."

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The event has come a long way since it began ten years ago with a couple local dads who decided to ride to Big Sur and raise some money for the schools. This year's event also featured artist booths for the first time, and served over 500 barbecue lunches. Some eighty volunteers pitched in, according to Allison Niday, president of the SVEF.

"It's a fun event, it's unique, it's not just another auction," said Niday. "We need to raise a minimum of $100,000 per year, and we give 100 percent of that back to the schools to fund critical programs."

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According to Niday, about $55,000 goes into the libraries and $44,000 goes into counseling services each year. Fifteen percent of every dollar raised also goes into the endowment fund, which is growing very nicely, according to Niday.

"We're hoping to get to a point where we can just use the interest," said Niday. 

Ten-year-old Devon Hawthorn of Scotts Valley participated in the 32 mile ride with his Trek Madone 2011 road bike.

"I was taking it easy because I broke my arm," said Hawthorn who also participated last year.

Hawthorn has been riding for four years now, and he's hooked. "I'm going to try to train and see if I can do the 60 mile or the 100 mile next year," said Hawthorn.

 

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