SUFFOLK BICYCLE RIDERS ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISES OVER $11,000 FOR STONY BROOK CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

The Suffolk Bicycle Riders Association (SBRA), a local bicycle club with 753 members, raised $11,383.74 during their annual Bike-Boat-Bike ride for the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The donation, matched by a Stony Brook Children’s Hospital donating contributor, brought the final fundraising total to $22,767.48.
The fundraiser was part of the annual Bike-Boat-Bike ride sponsored and organized by SBRA, which was held on June 3, 2012. Over 1550 people participated in this fully supported scenic tour through Long Island’s North Fork, Shelter Island and South Fork. Options ranging from 25 flat miles to 137 hilly miles were available to accommodate all levels of riders and rest stops with refreshments were provided.

New this year was the fundraising component which aimed to support the construction, beginning in 2013, on a new facility for the Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital, Suffolk County’s first and only children’s hospital.  The move and expansion from its current location within Stony Brook Hospital will make sure that children in our community have access to the most advanced care in the most appropriate setting.

Interested participants of Bike-Boat-Bike were asked to sell raffle tickets for ten bike-related prizes donated by area bike shops. Prizes included a cycling trip to France (donated by Reilly Cycling Tours), a road bicycle (donated by The Kreb Cycle), a mountain bicycle (donated by Brands Cycle & Fitness), a cycling GPS (donated by Carl Hart Bicycles), a bike shop gift certificate for $250 (donated by Campus Bicycles), a bike helmet (donated by Rocky Point Cycle), a cycling computer (donated by Rocky Point Cycle), cycling shoes (donated by Adams Cyclery), a bike rack and trunk set (donated by REI Carle Place), and an indoor bike trainer system (donated by Twin Forks Bicycle).

Over one hundred members volunteered to sell over 1,000 raffle tickets with these efforts led by SBRA’s Vice President of Administration, Paul Miklean.
“This was our first year tying a fundraising component to our annual Bike-Boat-Bike tour,” said Miklean. “We were not sure what the response would be, but everyone who participated agreed that Stony Brook Children’s Hospital was an important and worthy cause. We are thrilled to have raised over $11,000 for them and thank all of the area bicycle shops for donating these fabulous prizes.”

There was a check presentation on July 16, 2012 at Stony Brook Hospital with Bob DeVito, SBRA President, Fred Sganga, Interim Hospital CEO, and Paul Miklean, SBRA VP of Administration (pictured, left to right).

Photos from the Bike-Boat-Bike tour can be viewed at SBRA’s website at www.sbraweb.org (click on Bike-Boat-Bike).

Suffolk Bicycle Riders Association is Long Island's largest bicycling club and offers something for cyclists at every level of experience. SBRA’s goal is to provide enjoyable rides, a safe and friendly environment, and an assortment of social activities. Monthly meetings for club members are held the first Thursday of every month at 7:00pm at the New Village Recreation Center in Centereach, NY. New members can join at the monthly meeting or online at www.sbraweb.org.