SEQUIM — Members of Sequim High School’s Rotary Interact Club will put the pedal-to-the-metal on a stationary electricity bike for 24 hours this weekend to raise money for lights that aid families across the world that are in a crisis situation.
Club members are set to pedal for 30-minute increments starting at noon Saturday through noon Sunday at the Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St., to generate as many watts as possible and to raise money to buy 100 LuminAID Shelter Box lights.
A ribbon-cutting is set for noon Saturday to kick off the first ride of the event and community members are invited to come and cheer on students as they pedal.
Rotary Interact Club President Sean Weber said the idea is to demonstrate how much human power is needed to generate one of the LuminAID lights.
“This is the first time we’ve initiated a big event like this,” Weber said.
“We thought it would be good to do a physical activity that involves club members and raises money for the LuminAIDs.”
LuminAID lights are solar-powered lights that can last up to 24 hours with a solar panel for recharging. These lights are often deployed to families around the world for disaster relief.
Each light costs about $25.
The Public Utility District donated a special electricity bike for students to use with a special converter to show how much solar output is generated by the bike.
“The body relates energy; converted, that will show output in solar energy to tie in the bike with how much human power it takes to power one of the LuminAIDs,” Weber said.
Shelter Box representatives also will attend the event with a Shelter Box to show how the LuminAIDs and Shelter Box equipment are used.
Shelter Boxes are deployed around the world as part of disaster relief efforts and provide equipment for families to live out of for one year.
“The club has been really receptive to the event,” Weber said. “We are aligning ourselves with organizations doing incredible work and making people’s donations count. As a club we feel good about what were doing.”
Through Saturday, Pedego Electric Bikes in Sequim will donate $50 to the club for every bike that is bought.
To make a donation, visit the students at Civic Center Plaza where club members will take donations. A check can be made out to Sequim High School Rotary Interact Club. Donations are tax deductible.
For more information, call Rotary Interact Club advisor Colleen Robinson at 360-460-5560.
