Just like businesses across the nation, Bike to the Beach has been wrestling with how and when to open back up.  We’re happy to proclaim, “We’re Open!”  We did not come to this decision lightly; we have been working hard to balance all of the conflicting needs of this time.  We want you to understand why we’re riding, and hopefully you’ll be just as inspired as we are!

READ A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:

We come together each year to fundraise and make a positive impact in the autism and developmental disabilities community. This year our fundraising efforts are more important than ever. Our partners face financial strain and lost revenue due to cancelled fundraising events, but they have continued to provide consistent services to the autism and disability community.  For many, reimagining these services and retooling delivery has meant making unexpected, financial investments.  We are committed to being part of their financial solution, not another cancelled fundraising event. Addressing new social distancing and sterilization protocols will be a significant challenge, but Bike to the Beach was built on the determination to overcome a challenge. Our core purpose has always been to provide the necessary support to make every individual safe, valued, and successful. Restructuring our ride is just an extension of what our organization is all about.  This year we will face logistical challenges to exceed all CDC and government recommendations for safety, but we are confident that with your support and assistance, we can overcome this challenge and fulfill our mission.

The ride is a celebration—a culmination of hard work and fun with friends—but the event is, at its core, a fundraiser. We do not fundraise because it is fun, we do it because it matters. We do it each year because it changes the lives of those around us and gives individuals the support needed to meet their potential. It is about expanding each person’s opportunities and providing the resources needed to live robust and fulfilling lives. And this year, the reason we ride is even more poignant, as funds are needed just to sustain the basic daily norms within our community.

We understand the financial, mental, and public health strain that has stretched the globe over the last few months. We understand individuals may feel they are fundraising at a diminished capacity this year. But we are hosting the ride because while so much of the world around us has stopped, the needs of the autism and disability community hasn’t. Food still needs to be delivered to group homes, therapies must be delivered in a virtual way, and employment opportunities for the autism and disabilities community still need to be protected. As the rest of the world was shutting down, our community’s needs grew, and our non-profit partners continued to serve while being starved of funds.

Together we can help ease their burden. We can help be the solution.

We plan to ride. We plan to rise to the challenge and to celebrate. We hope you will look forward to this unprecedented Bike to the Beach. And we hope that you will make whatever effort you can to fundraise. You are needed now more than ever.

Best,

 

Robby Walsh
Bike to the Beach
Executive Director

As we approach our 2020 season, we will continue to finalize details and expectations of the event, but we want to share some of the strategies we are exploring.  We hope these details will help you envision how we can safely Bike to the Beach.

If you have any questions about this year’s ride or how we plan to create a safe, socially distanced Bike to the Beach: