Cyclist Mark Yeaton expected a physical challenge during a 24-hour fundraiser as he tried to boost the United Way of Bartholomew County’s COVID-19 Relief Fund this past weekend.
But he got even more than he bargained for as he peddled the idea of helping others amid the pandemic.
That included a bat flying into his chest in the middle of the night as he rode, and a darting deer nearly colliding with Yeaton’s bike in another encounter.
“It woke me up as a shot of adrenaline surged,” said Yeaton, a local teacher and a veteran cyclist who has used his athletic conditioning to raise money for a host of charities the past decade.
His effort also gave the fund a bit of a surge as it edged up to $607,604 raised since mid-March for nine United Way agencies helping county residents with food, utilities, counseling and other needs amid substantial job losses locally. Yeaton’s project, known in the ultra-cycling world as Everesting, involved repeatedly climbing up and down a steep, one-mile hill on Becks Grove Road on the Bartholomew-Brown County line from early Saturday morning to early Sunday morning with no sleep and only short breaks.
He eventually climbed a total of 29,000 feet — the height of Everest.
He raised $3,300 thus far, according to United Way leaders. United Way President Mark Stewart was among those who showed up at one point to salute Yeaton. Same for a total of 18 other cyclists, who showed up at various intervals to ride alongside Yeaton and show support.
Among that group was Jim Roberts, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. superintendent, and Yeaton’s principal, Jeff Backmeyer, principal at Southside Elementary School.
A number of Yeaton’s current and former students also either rode or showed up to cheer him on amid his feat that stretched for 26 hours amid breaks to rest and eat.
“Bless their hearts for doing that (to help),” Yeaton said.
Stewart mentioned that a total of $326,373 has been distributed from the relief fund to 10 certified United Way agencies for a range of needs. Groceries have been a main need since the fund began.
And most of the money released for people’s needs have been distributed within a couple days of agencies requesting funds, according to Stewart. He said in the beginning that a fast response time would be a key to helping local residents caught in emergency situations amid financial strain.
“Donations have definitely slowed recently,” Stewart said, though he has repeatedly praised residents’ generosity since the effort began. “But we have no plans to stop it.”
Others beyond Yeaton also have spearheaded fundraisers for the relief fund. That includes Landmark Columbus’ recent T-shirt sale and photographer Angela Jackson’s fundraiser.
Stewart praised them and also the agency leaders “who certainly have innovated to find ways to continue to provide their services in a safe manner.”
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To donate to the United Way of Bartholomew County’s COVID-19 Relief Fund:
Go to uwbarthco.org and click on COVID-19 Relief Fund to donate. To mark the donation in honor of cyclist Mark Yeaton’s effort, check the appropriate box at the bottom.
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