Will ride for food
By Linda N. Weller, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"I did 71 miles Sunday, and 70 miles Monday," said
While he rides for enjoyment, the president and chief executive officer of
His mission is printed on the large clear shield on the front of his bike: "Biking to Support Food Pantries," and James 2: 13-17. The Bible verse admonishes people to feed and clothe the needy.
"I thought if I could do it for a cause, it would be cool," he said.
This year's recipients are
He also has ridden his bicycle in diabetes organizations' fundraisers, the length of
Wiewel guessed with Tuesday's predicted mid-90s temperatures he would ride his bicycle about 65 miles. He had hoped to get an earlier,
Despite cooler temperatures in the weather forecast, Wiewel may face rain this week in his ninth annual charity ride. No matter, Wiewel's goal is to ride 450 miles from
"Four-hundred-fifty miles would be the most I've done in seven days," he said. "Each year it gets a little bigger," he said of his mileage, and amounts of money he raises.
He rode 431 miles during the 2013 "Bike for Food," raising
WCU matches donations of cash, checks and value of food or personal hygiene items up to
That money represents 18,000 miles of bike riding for Wiewel. He is the only person from WCU who rides in "Bike for Food."
WCU pays Wiewel's ride expenses, so all donations he generates for the pantries go to those organizations and then donors may claim tax deductions. Although Wiewel's ride lasts one week, the WCU matching period lasts the full calendar year.
It was coincidental, though, that Wiewel ended up cruising the vast bicycle trail system and nearby roads in
Wiewel had planned to ride across
Wiewel canceled his
"I want to be close to her," he said of his wife. "I dedicated my ride this year to her."
Two of Wiewel's sons, Matthew, 20, and
Early this week Wiewel rode from
He also fell off his bike in
"I do this for a cause, when you do it for a cause, you suck it up," he said.
He planned to ride up to the
"You have great bike trails here," he said.
He said nearly all drivers of motorized vehicles are "friendly and courteous." Wiewel bought his more comfortable, recumbent bike in 2006 that he dubs "the recliner on wheels" after suffering severe blisters during a 2005 ride on a regular two-wheeled bicycle. The blisters cut short his ride, landing him on bed rest.
Regardless of the bike,
"
In order to help pantries obtain the WCU match, donors should write "BIKE" on their checks or other items they provide. They should mail or take the donations to the centers, not to WCU.
Online links to the organizations with donation addresses are: http://www.cc.dio.org/home.htm, for
WCU is a fraternal life insurance society based in
Reach
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