A gaggle of cyclists set forth from Chaney’s Dairy Barn early Saturday morning, all pedaling to raise awareness.
The National Kidney Foundation’s fourth annual Ride Out Loud event attracted about 75 bike riders, many of whom spent the morning riding a 44-mile course that took the group into Auburn and wound along state and county roads before ending back at Chaney’s.
Ride Out Loud, through sponsorships and donations, helps raise money to fund efforts to educate people about preventing kidney disease and about the need for organ donation.
“You always want to ride for a very good cause,” said Joy Graham of Bowling Green, a fitness instructor who rode the 44-mile course Saturday.
The Kentucky Region of the National Kidney Foundation and The Medical Center, the presenting sponsor for the event, have collaborated on each year’s ride, with participation and contributions growing each year.
Abby Johnston, regional special events manager for the NKF, said about $4,000 was raised through Ride Out Loud last year.
“We get a lot of new families (participating) each year,” Johnston said.
The NKF is a voluntary health agency devoted to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, increasing the availability of organs for transplantation and improving the health of people and families affected by these diseases.
Cyclists who registered for Saturday’s ride could choose from routes covering eight, 20, 44 or 67 miles. Two people had signed to ride the 67-mile course, but appeared to change their mind, as their names were crossed out and added to the 44-mile route.
The routes were designed with all levels of riders in mind, although many of them opted to ride the second-longest route.
“Most of those people who ride are serious riders,” said Joe Causey, chaplain for The Medical Center and volunteer coordinator for Ride Out Loud.
Small signs with information about kidney disease were placed along each route.
According to the NKF, 26 million Americans have kidney disease and 20 million more are at risk, and Kentucky ranks near the top among states in numbers of people suffering from or at risk of getting kidney disease.
More than 97,000 people nationwide, and more than 750 people in Kentucky, are on a waiting list for organ transplants.
The Bowling Green League of Bicyclists plays a large role both in raising awareness of the event and participating, and several of its members were preparing their bikes Saturday morning in Chaney’s parking lot.
“For some people it’s going to be the longest ride they’ve been on, they’ve trained for it, and for others, they’re here to support a good cause,” said league member Stephen Ogden of Bowling Green.
Temperatures early Saturday were in the mid-70s and climbing, and several cyclists packed water and Gatorade with them.
Volunteers also provided chilled grapes, bananas and trail mix to cyclists.
Ogden, who has participated in the Ride Out Loud in previous years, chose to ride the 44-mile course.
“It is hot, but it could be worse,” Ogden said. “It’s when you stop riding that the weather matters. When you’re riding it feels like a 21-mile-an-hour breeze is hitting you at all times.”
