Cycling Without Age seeks volunteers, prepares for a season of rides

TIFFIN — Cycling Without Age Seneca County is seeking volunteers for training in April and is preparing for rides to begin in May. CWA enables the elderly and people with limited mobility to enjoy the wind in their hair during trishaw rides. The organization is made up of volunteers who encourage people to enjoy life by being able to travel by bicycle as many had done in their youth. Board President Pat DeMonte said great things can happen when one dreams big. "We are so grateful to all who believed in our dream and have walked with us on this journey of the past year," she said. The organization is preparing for its second annual Wind in Your Hair 5K Fun Run and Walk on April 15 at Hedges-Boyer Park. Registration and T-shirt pickup at the Amvets shelter near the community YMCA will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at 9:15 a.m. and the race at 9:30 a.m. The cost is $25, with registration available at www.runsignup.com or by printing a registration form from Cycling Without Age Seneca County's Facebook page. CWA has given more than 633 rides to individuals from ages 3 to over 100. Locally, 26 volunteers have given more than 352 volunteer pilot hours, and board members have donated more than 168 hours of their time. There are three trishaws in Seneca County. The CWA Seneca County board owns two, including a wheelchair-accessible trishaw, and also owns an enclosed trailer that will be used to transport the trishaws. The third trishaw is owned by Seneca County Opportunity Center. The organization has served the community through various events and at Autumnwood Care Center, ECI, Elmwood at The Shawhan, Flat Rock Homes, Good Shepherd Home, Kiwanis Manor, St. Catherine's Care Center of Fostoria, St. Francis Home and The Willows. Funding has been from Good Shepherd Home, First Presbyterian Church of Tiffin's memorial fund, National Machinery Foundation, Tiffin Community Foundation's Bo Reid Fund, Tiffin Community Foundation's Youth Advisory Council, the Yasso Hero in Action grant and the Wind in Your Hair 5K Fun Run and Walk as well as many other individual donors and corporations. Cycling Without Age Seneca County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is grateful for donations made to support its mission. Checks may be sent to CWA Seneca County, 2518 S. SR 231, Tiffin OH 44883. The local CWA is part of a worldwide organization that started in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is represented in 59 countries, with 3,050 chapter locations, 4,900 trishaws, 39,000 trained cycle pilots, more than 3 million rides and more than 650,000 people served. Facilities wishing to schedule rides or anyone interested in volunteering may email cwasenecacounty@gmail.com or visit the organization's Facebook page.