A Stevensville area bicycling club has achieved 501(c)(3) non-profit status, enabling it to expand its activities in the community.
Greg Collins with the Pachyderm Pedalers tells us the group goes on rides all over the area while raising funds for non-profits and advocating for cyclists. It grew quickly after forming.
“We started in 2017, just a small group of us riding out of Stevensville, and we started riding every Thursday night and the group grew and grew and grew,” Collins said. “As of a couple, three years ago, we had up to 200 plus people joining us and still do on Thursday nights during the summer months.”
Collins says the Pachyderm Pedalers now have multiple pace groups. With its now-official status as a non-profit, the group wants to further partner with organizations to promote health, sustainability, and equity through cycling.
“We want to reach out to the youth in the community and somehow come up with programs or a few rides at least to introduce kids to organized riding. There are some great examples of this around the nation that we’re studying right now and looking at.”
Collins says it’s all about doing more for the community and connecting more people with the joy of cycling.
The club’s annual hallmark event, The Beer:30, brings riders together for a fun and festive ride to raise funds for Cycle-Re-Cycle of Benton Harbor. This year’s event will be on September 6.
