Cross-country bike ride to benefit local food bank

The idea that Opelika resident Caroline Donnelly is peddling will potentially benefit several people across Lee County. However, turning that idea into reality will require some pedaling of a different kind.
Later this month, Donnelly, 60, and four of her Adventure Cycling Association colleagues will embark on a cross-country bicycle tour to raise food, funds and awareness about the role the Food Bank of East Alabama plays in the community.
Donnelly, a registered nurse, said the idea for the “Pedaling for Food” benefit dawned on her during a bike ride home from the food bank where she volunteers with the Brown Bag Program at the Community Market. The Brown Bag program helps provide food to elderly residents of the community.
“I stopped to talk to a neighbor who’d asked me what I’d been doing and I told him I was training for a cross-country bike tour and used the ride to the food bank as training,” Donnelly said. The neighbor suggested Donnelly should have the food bank be her sponsor for the ride.
“That’s when I thought to myself, no, I’ll sponsor them,” said Donnelly, who has been an avid runner and cyclist since the late 1970s and has competed in numerous duathlons — athletic events that alternate between running and cycling segments.
When Donnelly heads out on her cross-country ride Feb. 26, she and her travelling companions will be looking to raise at least $3,100 and 3,100 pounds of food for the local food bank — one pound and one dollar for each of the 3,100 miles of their trek that will start in St. Augustine, Fla. and end in San Diego.
Donnelly and her cycling group will cover approximately 50 miles a day on the trip that will take them nearly 60 days to complete. Donnelly’s bicycle, which has been given a thorough maintenance check by Golden’s Bike Shop of Auburn, will be outfitted with a towing trailer to carry her tent, clothing and spare parts for her bike as she and her group will camp outdoors during most nights of their trip.
As Donnelly and her group close the distance from one coastline to the other, it’s the growing number of elderly and families that are calling on the services of the food bank that she will keep in mind.
“The distance between the haves and have not’s in our society is increasing,” Donnelly said. “The food bank attempts to close this gap.”
Food bank executive director Martha Henk said she is thrilled that Donnelly has found a way to combine two things she is passionate about.
“Caroline has found a way to combine her love for biking and physical activity with her desire to support the work of the food bank, to raise awareness about the needs, and to invite others to support the cause,” Henk said. “We are very excited and appreciative of her willingness to take on such a huge challenge.”
Donnelly’s husband, Robert and three adult children, sons Collin, 35, Garett, 32, and daughter, Madeline, 27, have been equally supportive of her decision to go forward with the “Pedaling for Food” benefit.
“When I went on my first trail run, my husband told me not to get eaten by a bear,” joked Donnelly. “He continues to say that and I heed his advice.“
Local residents interested in aiding the effort can drop off food donations at barrels at all three Gold’s Gym locations, and at the Auburn and Opelika Kroger Store. Those who wish to help may also contribute financially by making their checks out to the Food Bank of East Alabama care of “Pedaling for Food.”
The food bank will post regular updates on its web page, www.foodbankofeastalabama.com. Karla DeBrunner of the food bank will also be maintaining a food bank Facebook page that will share updates from Donnelly.
You can find the food bank’s FaceBook page by searching for Food Bank of East Alabama.