You can ride and glide in the dark so that local animals needing care and homes can see the light of day for their future.
That’s the idea behind the 2018 Moonlight Loop, a 19-mile fundraising bike ride beginning at 9 p.m. Aug. 4 that will wind through Columbus city streets and roads. The fifth annual event raises money for Columbus Animal Care Services, 2730 Arnold Drive, which is running at full capacity with 23 dogs and 83 cats, including some in foster care.
Columbus Police Department officers guide cyclists in the dark through the route that — what else? — loops the city.
Organizers are seeking more riders and volunteers alike.
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The event has netted more than $46,000 since it began, with last year’s event generating $12,658. The number of riders has ranged from 262 to 318 over the first four years, said Nicohl Birdwell-Goodin, general manager of Animal Care Services.
Currently, there are about 90 entrants.
“The number of riders often seems to be weather-dependent,” Birdwell-Goodin said, referring to either rain or heat as factors.
Columbus cyclist Jeff Decker, who dressed in neon yellow for the 2017 event, loved his experience — especially a segment along a wooded area near River Road.
“It was pretty cool to have people along the way cheering us on from their driveways and front yards, like we were in the Tour de France or something.”
Animal Care Services is operated by city tax dollars and through fines, fees and monetary donations. However, the general operating budget covers only basic services including wages, utilities and maintenance of both the facility and vehicles.
The animal adoption/medical fund does not use tax dollars and is supported only by fines, fees and monetary donations. Donations made to the department are considered tax-deductible.
Individuals must pre-register by today to receive an official ride glow-in-the-dark T-shirt with their ride registration. The $30 registration fee includes the shirt and covers expenses for the support-and-gear wagons and station refreshments at the mid-point of the ride.
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Participants can save $5 and register for $30 per person through Aug. 3 at columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services/moonlight-loop or in person at Columbus Animal Care Services, 2730 Arnold Drive in Columbus. On-site registration will be available Aug. 4 for $35 per person.
People interested in volunteering may call 812-376-2505 or email moonlightloop@columbus.in.gov. Volunteers at the sport-and-gear station and the food stop must be at least 13 years old to volunteer with a parent or guardian. On the actual route, volunteers need to be 16 and with a parent/guardian.
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