Habitat Halloween Bike Ride

2009 Fundraising Rides
The goal of the 2009 Habitat Bike Rides, including the July Bull Moon Ride and the October Halloween Bike Ride, is to raise the $50,000 Habitat home sponsorship for the Billious family home and we DID IT!  Lakenya Billious is the 33 year-old mother of a 13 year-old daughter.  Lakenya's mother and nephew also live with her.  Lakenya works as a child nutrition assistant with the Durham Public Schools and as a parking attendant with the City of Durham.  The Billious family, pictured below with Peter Anlyan, is thrilled to have their home sponsored by the ride and to make their dream of homeownership come true.

Halloween Bike Ride participant, Doug Nesmith (on the right with his riding friend, Ed Davis) a teacher at Parkwood Middle School in Monroe, NC, recently shared with Habitat why he rides:

A year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes.  My doctor told me that after weight loss, diet and exercise could help me keep my diabetes under control.  After loosing 50 pounds, I took up cycling to help maintain my weight.  I was hooked!  Now, cycling is not just about fitness, it is about pushing myself to ride as far as I can.  I set a personal goal to ride a century by the summer of 2010.  

As I was looking for local century rides, I discovered the Habitat of Durham Halloween Ride.  I thought that the 31 mile route would be a great first step towards my goal of completing a century ride.  Additionally, I have always admired Habitat for helping families in need.  As a public school teacher, I am excited that the family benefiting from the Halloween Ride includes a mom who works in the Durham school system.  

After telling my students what I was doing, they have pitched in to help by donating money.  Several fundraising suppers at my church and donations from members of the community have helped me raise $712 toward my $1,000 fundraising goal.    

The sixth-annual Halloween Bike Ride on October 31 was simply SPOOKTACULAR! There was a total of 853 cyclists (713 pre-registered and140 walk-ons) registered to take off in the mist and the rainy morning of October 31. Talk about dedication and support for Habitat for Humanity of Durham’s mission! Over $50,000 was raised which completely sponsors the house of the Billious Family. Construction will begin on the Billious Family/Bike Ride home is later this month, Saturday, November 21st!

The 2009 Habitat Bull Moon Ride was also a huge success.  On Saturday, July 18, 539 cyclists (354 pre-registered and 185 walk-ons) traveled around Durham by moonlight.  More than $23,000 was raised to help the Billious family make their dream of homeownership come true.  Click here to learn more about the ride and see photos from the event.  
 
2008 Fundraising Rides
In 2008 Habitat for Humanity of Durham hosted two successful bicycle rides.  The first-annual Bull Moon Ride in July had 200 cyclists traveling around Durham by moonlight.  The fifth-annual Habitat Halloween Bike Ride in October hosted 601 registered riders on 31, 62, and 100 mile routes through scenic Durham County and beyond.  

Both events helped further Habitat’s mission to build safe, decent, and affordable homes in Durham.  The goal of the Habitat Halloween Bike ride was to raise the $50,000 home sponsorship for the Aguirre family.  Ivan Aguirre and his wife, Amalia Espinoza, moved to the United States from Ecuador in 1997 in hopes of finding a new land of opportunity.  The Aguirre family home, pictured below, was dedicated on Saturday, May 30, 2009.