Last year was the inaugural year for Cycle for Champions at the Hiawatha Trail and Dale Baldwin is looking forward to a bigger and even better turn out in just a few months. Cycle for Champions, a fundraiser for the Five Valley Chapter for Special Olympics, raises money to send Special Olympic athletes to the state games in the summer.

"What we have is an event, it's the 2nd annual 'Cycle for Champions' event that we hold at the Hiawatha Trail, and all of the proceeds go to benefit the Five Valleys Chapter of Montana Special Olympics," Baldwin said. "We generally raise as much as we can. We're asking $50 for participants that are going to get their trail tickets for that. There's also swag water bottles, t-shirts, things of that nature."

Baldwin said the trail they’re riding is primarily downhill and welcomes people of all ages to join in the fun.

"We have some of the Special Olympic athletes that are participating with us as well as helping with the event," Baldwin said. "We'll start at the top of the trail by the tap tunnel and then cycle to the bottom which is approximately 17 miles [map]. Now, if somebody who cycles a lot or just wants the extra challenge, they're certainly welcome to bike the other way. If they don't, that's perfectly fine. They'll still be greeted with barbecue at the end of the road."

The event is August 2 at the Hiawatha Trail near Lookout Pass at 10 a.m. pacific time. To find more information, visit their Facebook page, and search “Cycle for Champions.”

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