News

Bike rally kicks off Bruce Drysdale fundraiser

By Bill Moss, Published: September 13, 2012

Bruce Drysdale Elementry School will kick off its fall Bike to the Beach fundraiser with a Bike Rally from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Hendersonville High School's football field.

Kids are encouraged to bring their bikes to ride around the track.
"We are also encouraging folks to bring bikes they've outgrown to donate to kids who may not have a bike," said Angie Reid, president of Bruce Drysdale's PTO. "We will also have local cyclist who will be riding in the Mountains to the Sea Ride there."

Hendersonville bicyclist A.J. Ball will depart on a 430-mile trek from Brevard to Carolina Beach on Sept. 30 in an effort to raise money for the school, where two of his family members are students.

Ball is joining Cycle North Carolina's "Mountains to the Sea Bike Ride" in an effort to raise $30,000 to support of academic and fitness programs for students. Ball will join 1,500 other cyclists from around the world on the cross-state journey that ends on Oct. 7.
Bruce Drysdale School principal Christine Smith said that donations generated by the ride would offset expenses for special priority projects, ranging from funds for technology vouchers for apps for school iPads to improvements to the playground areas, including handicapped-accessible elements and upgraded play equipment.
Another element of the challenge is to get students involved in a hands-on capacity. BDS students will be able to 'ride alongside A.J.' by accumulating their own miles on the homefront. Students are challenged to ride their bikes 20 miles a week over a 3-week period and will also work to collect monetary pledges for their miles in support of A.J.'s ride.

"We're looking for sponsorships at flat dollar amounts or we're asking folks to simply sponsor A.J. by the mile," Reid said. "We would love to have the support of the business community too."

For more information about the fundraiser call the school at 828-697-5568.