Cyclists ride across Sanders County on their way to help
<p>Riders with the "Bike and Build" program stop off in Paradise on Tuesday. The riders are on their way to Spokane where they will build affordable housing. It will be the eighth time during the journey that they have assisted others in construction projects.</p>
PARADISE- Riders with the program known as “Bike and Build” passed through Sanders County on their way to Seattle on Tuesday. The riders stopped off in Paradise to rest before continuing on a journey that started in Providence, Rhode Island and will eventually end on the West Coast.
The half dozen riders that paused in Paradise are one of eight groups traveling different routes across the country. They have stopped at several locations along the way to build and fund affordable housing. Partnering with groups such as Habitat for Humanity, riders raise money and raise their tools to assist other programs in construction projects.
Claire Collins from Austin, Texas said she was compelled to participate after working with Habitat for Humanity. In her first year with the program, Collins said it was a way to challenge herself, have an adventure and help people at the same time.
As the group dismounted their bikes, they heard a noise in the distance and immediately began to walk across the fields in between the town of Paradise and the rocky outcroppings about 200 yards away.
The group immediately grabbed their cameras and began to take pictures of the bighorn sheep coming down the mountain, creating the racket they had heard earlier. Many remarked that they had never seen the animals before.
“I’ve never done anything like this before and never been to this part of the country,” said Collins. “This a great way to raise awareness of the need for affordable housing. It’s also so gorgeous here.”
Team leader Chris Matthews said the trip serves multiple purposes. The team gets hands on experience building houses along the way as part of the program.
“It’s a great program,” said Matthews. “The chance to see the effects of your work and to feel like we are making a difference is a really powerful experience.”
In ten years, Bike and Build programs have raised over $4 million for housing groups in 47 states. Bike and Build was founded in 2002 by Marc Bush, a cyclist who believed that this type of program would empower young people to take responsible and socially conscious action.
According to the Bike and Build website, the rides began in 2003. By 2009, there were eight teams crossing the country. To date, 1,600 riders have participated in the event.