Cyclists begin the SMECO 75 event at the co-op’s headquarters passing under the Bike Ride banner held aloft by two SMECO bucket trucks.
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) employees hosted their fourth annual bike ride on June 6, 2015. Three bike routes of 29, 50, and 75 miles started at the Co-op’s headquarters in Hughesville and went as far as Colton’s Point in St. Mary’s County. Profits from the bike ride will be donated to three local shelters: Safe Harbor in Calvert County; Lifestyles of Maryland, Martha’s Place Transitional Home, in Charles County; and Wrapping Arms Round Many (WARM) in St. Mary’s County.
“One after another, participants in this year’s event complimented our volunteers, the organization, the food at the rest stops, and the lunch,” said Austin J. Slater, Jr., SMECO president and CEO. “Thanks to SMECO’s volunteer employees, who make the event enjoyable, our annual bike ride has become very popular.”
Last year, SMECO employees raised $36,470 through the bike ride held in June and a charity golf tournament held in October. The events are supported by a group of volunteers, vendors, and the SMECO executive team. The Co-op selects a different organization each year to benefit from the fundraising events.
Natalie Cotton, SMECO’s community and public affairs director, added, “Our fourth annual bike ride was a great success. Proceeds for the shelters will total more than $20,000. We had 470 cyclists who participated, and thanks to the team effort and the support that our volunteers provided, cyclists passed on many compliments about the ride.”
Cotton added, “We are especially grateful to business partners who participate by donating resources to help make the SMECO 75 Bike Ride a successful fundraiser. Major contributors include ICF International, Penn Line, Infor, J.M Tennyson Constuction, Origin, Adams, Jenkins and Cheatham, CGI, Cigna Health, iFactor Consulting, New River Electric Corporation, Oracle Utilities, ProForma Johnston and Associates, Prudential, Stantec, The Meltzer Group, Barbara Ives, Booth and Associates, Cerner, EnergyHub, Good Earth Natural Foods, Integrand Information Systems, M.D. Henry Company, Manis Canning And Associates, Opower, Utilitec, and VFP, and we thank them for their contributions.”
For photos of the event, visit SMECO’s website at https://www.smeco.coop/community/smeco75.
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- The fourth annual SMECO 75 Bike Ride begins and ends at the co-op’s headquarters in Hughesville. Some of the cyclists have participated in the event every year.
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- Cyclists head out early Saturday morning, June 6, 2015, to ride the 29-mile, 50-mile, or 75-mile route on the fourth annual SMECO 75 Bike Ride.
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- The second rest stop on the 75-mile route of the SMECO 75 Bike Ride is located at the St. Clement’s Island Museum and provides cyclists with a shady area and a scenic view.