It’s being billed as “the only kosher ride in the West,” but it may just be the only kosher ride in the entire United States.
It’s the Foothill Century ride, and the cyclists who sign up will not only get to participate in a 100-kilometer ride, but will be supporting a cause in the process: The South Peninsula Hebrew Day School.
Jamie Hyams, the director of development for SPHDS, said the idea came about in trying to come up with an innovative fund-raiser this year.
“My job is to help coordinate an annual event every year, and there wasn’t a whole lot of excitement for doing another dinner,” she said.
An avid cyclist herself, Hyams turned to what she likes to do. But also, she said, “We’re always turning to the same small community. How could we do something that would involve the wider world?”
Being that Hyams knows many cyclists who go from event to event on their weekends, she thought a bike ride would be the perfect thing.
So on Sunday, May 15, people will be able to ride for SPHDS.
What makes this ride kosher? At all the rest stops, the snacks will be kosher. And the barbecue lunch offered at the end will be strictly kosher as well.
The ride has three levels. The 100K, which is 63 miles, is for serious cyclists. A 25-mile route is for the more recreational biker. And a 10-kilometer ride is in the area immediately surrounding the school.
“It is a very quiet, gentle route, and families with young children and our own students will collect sponsors per kilometer,” said Hyams. The route goes by the homes of about 20 SPHDS families, who will have balloons and signs in their yards. “For our own community, that becomes like a family house tour. There will be a lot of spirit on that course.”
Students at SPHDS are busy collecting sponsors, and this fund-raiser is one they can get excited about, according to Hyams. A few families have stepped forward to offer matching grants to those classes that raise the most money. The student who raises the most will win a bicycle, and the class that raises the most will win the opportunity to do the ride accompanied by a beloved security guard at the school.
The rides all begin at the SPHDS campus in Sunnyvale. The 100K ride will travel through Redwood City, Woodside and Los Altos Hills.
The registration fee is $40. Information is available at www.sphds.org/foothillcentury or (408) 738-3060.
Athletic events like this are usually underwritten by the various sponsors and, typically, registration fees go entirely to the charity at hand. Hyams and her colleagues have worked hard to get a number of community sponsors, as well as Osem products and Empire chickens, both of which are kosher, of course. Snacks from Osem, an Israeli food company, will be offered at the rest stops.
The goal is to raise $25,000 with at least 250 riders and at most 600, she said.
Hyams has promoted the ride to local cycling clubs, noting that there are plenty of people who go from ride to ride, every weekend, paying little attention to the sponsor.
If this ride goes well, Hyams is hoping the Foothill Century will turn into a yearly event.
Avid cyclists “pay attention to how many miles they’ve ridden with their club, so if we get the cycling clubs doing this as part of their ride cycle, it’s a really big thing.
“This ride is totally unique,” she said. “It’s going to be a fabulous day.”