SEQUIM — The Sequim Wheelers group is rolling out a fundraiser for its program to get community members into the great outdoors.
Discovery Memory Care will host a fundraiser for the Sequim Wheelers program that offers free, adaptive wheelchair bike rides, on a Duet or Opair wheelchair bicycle, to elderly and disabled community members, including children.
The event is set for 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Discovery Memory Care, 408 W. Washington St.
Sponsored by Wright’s Home Care Agency and Discovery Memory Care, the event will feature music from Old Sidekicks and Just in Thyme, entertainment from the Laff Pack, as well as popcorn, snow cones, a bake sale and a yard sale.
Proceeds will support the program’s ongoing costs such as insurance, maintenance of equipment, volunteer training and possible purchase of different adaptive bikes.
Sequim Wheelers founder Nicole Lepping said the organization is working with five nursing/assisted living facilities in the area to provide about 40 rides per month.
“We have been providing rides for Discovery Memory Care on a regular basis (every Tuesday) since mid-May 2019,” said Lepping.
“It has been a great cooperation.”
The Sequim Wheelers group gave its first rides in July 2018, and between then and October 2018 completed 90 rides.
This year, the group started in May and — weather permitting — group leaders expect to end the season in October or early November with about 180 rides for the year.
The group gave rides at a number of public events this year, including the Sequim Irrigation Festival, rides to the city of Sequim’s summer concert series at Carrie Blake Community Park, the Tour de Lavender, and Ian Mackay’s Sea to Sound trek.
“The overall goal is always a quality time for our elderly and disabled community members in the outdoors on our beautiful ODT [Olympic Discovery Trail] that usually couldn’t head out for a bike ride on their own,” Lepping said.
Sequim Wheelers has about 35 trained volunteers and the group is always seeking more.
A standard ride has a group of six bikes: two riders (with “wheelers”), two pilots and two safeties.
For more information about the event, call 360-683-7047 or email info@discovery-mc.com.
For more about Sequim Wheelers, see www.sequim wheelers.com or email sequimwheelers@yahoo.com.
