Summary: A newly formed organization dedicated to supporting the work of STEPS at Liberty Center is hosting a unique fundraising effort designed to showcase the scenic countryside and support a good cause at the same time.
A leisurely bicycle ride through the rolling hills of Wayne and Holmes counties will take on new significance when the support group dedicated to furthering the work of STEPS at Liberty Center hosts its first annual Break the Cycle ride on June 11.
The event is hosted by a new non-for-profit organization known as The Risers.
Just as Friends and Neighbors of Every Woman's House supports the work against domestic violence, The Risers mission is to reduce the stigma that underlies the disease of addiction and ensure that prevention, treatment and recovery services remain well funded and accessible, said The Risers President Sue Mathur.
According to Mathur, the nucleus of The Risers began to form over a year ago when a number of local community members noted that while there was an ever increasing need for substance abuse prevention, counseling and treatment services, few people openly talked about the heartbreak of addiction and what can be done to break its vicious cycle.
"Most of us have had a friend or relative with addiction disease. It hurts all of us yet we don't like to talk about it, said Mathur.
Mathur noted that help is available for those struggling with addiction at STEPS at Liberty Center.
In our community we have had help for many years, said Mathur adding STEPS has had an above average rate of success in treating this frustrating disease.
Founded in 1974, STEPS has grown from a one person operation to an organization offering a full range of substance abuse, prevention and treatment services.
According to Mathur, in addition to outpatient and prevention services provided at Gault Liberty Center STEPS has two residential treatment facilities - The Noble House, also known as Pathway House, which provides intensive inpatient residential treatment for men in recovery and Beacon House which provides the same services to women.
While the work of STEPS has received support for the past several years through a winter benefit dinner known as Amazing Grazing, the members of The Risers were looking for a new and innovative way to support STEPS.
They found what they were looking for in Break the Cycle.
A group of individuals met and thought it would be a great idea to coordinate a scenic bike ride throughout beautiful Wayne and Holmes counties that will enable cyclists from all over to come and enjoy our scenic area, said Mathur.
Break the Cycle will offer many different ride routes including a leisure ride for families with children around the campus of The Ohio State Agricultural Research and Development Center, said Mathur.
In addition to routes that loop within the OARDC campus participants have the option of taking 25, 50 and 100 routes through Wayne and Holmes counties, including portions of the Rails to Trails routes.
Participants may register for Break the Cycle on the day of the event or by visiting the organizations web page. Special cycling jerseys and performance t-shirts are available to order through the website as well.
Even those who arent cyclist can help support the event and The Risers organization by pledging their financial support to some of the many riders who are expected to take part in what the organization hopes will be an annual event or by making a donation on the events web site.
Mathur also noted that the organization would welcome volunteers to assist the participants on the day of the event. Those interested in volunteering can contact the event organizer by clicking on the Contact Us tab on the event home page.
To learn more about the Break the Cycle benefit ride log on to www.btcbenefit.org.
