Thank you for Ride & Walk4Art

A thank you letter from Event Chairperson Rob Williams for Ride & Walk4Art, the event that brought cyclists and walkers to Calaveras County to have fun and raise money for Arts in Education in our local public schools.

Dear Cycling and Walking Friends,
 
Thank you for attending the Calaveras County Arts Council Third Annual Ride & Walk4Art.
 
Ride & Walk4Art has been four years in the making, ever since the Calaveras County Arts Council Board of Directors imagined an outdoor fundraiser for their Art in Education program. The response has been incredible: This year, 240 cyclists and walkers from all over Northern California spent a sunny spring day enjoying West Calaveras County.  
 
We thank you for your participation and generosity; you made this event great. You helped raise over $6,500 to support the arts in Calaveras County public schools. We also thank our 4 presenting sponsors—Cal-Waste Recovery Systems, Mar-Val Valley Springs, Diane and Richard Freggiaro, and the Stockton Bike Club. Their support made this event possible.
 
Thanks to our event photographer Susan Conner, we have pictures of you cycling and walking, enjoying Irish music, having lunch overlooking Hogan Lake, shopping for art, laughing, and celebrating. You can see those photos here.
 
It was a great event, with only a few hiccups. A dozen cyclists turned right at Stoney Creek and rode uphill towards Jackson (Don’t worry! We found them). A young Stockton cyclist fell during a fast turn. I misplaced a safety vest and stop sign; forgot to bring the official registration list; and left my wife’s car keys at home so she couldn’t join me at opening of our event...but, all in all, it was a picture perfect Ride & Walk4Art. 
 
Someone asked me if this event is worth all the effort. It is. I think so. I care about providing art support to our local schools. In the last year, the CCAC has helped fund arts programs in eight Calaveras County Schools; Ride & Walk4Art helps bridge the funding gap for arts in our schools.
 
I also ride bikes in the Motherlode and hike local trails in West Calaveras County. I feel fortunate that you wanted to spend the day supporting Arts in Education at Ride & Walk4Art 2018. I had the best day ever!
 
We are already planning Ride & Walk4Art 2019. Since it will happen on St. Patrick’s Day, we’re adding corned beef to the menu. We’re creating a Leprechaun Treasure Hunt for bike and walking teams. We also plan to add a third longer bicycle route; in fact, it’s the very Stoney Creek jog that took some cyclists towards Jackson.
 
We do our best to make every participant feel welcome, safe on road or walk, entertained, well-fed, and part of a community.
 
Thank you for supporting Arts Education in Calaveras County public school and riding and walking in with us. We’ll see you next year!
 
Rob Williams