Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) employees hosted their fourth annual bike ride June 6.
Three bike routes of 29, 50, and 75 miles started at the Co-op’s headquarters in Hughesville and went as far as Colton’s Point in St. Mary’s County. Profits from the bike ride will be donated to three local shelters: Safe Harbor in Calvert County; Lifestyles of Maryland, Martha’s Place Transitional Home, in Charles County; and Wrapping Arms Round Many (WARM) in St. Mary’s County.
“One after another, participants in this year’s event complimented our volunteers, the organization, the food at the rest stops, and the lunch,” said Austin J. Slater, Jr., SMECO president and CEO. “Thanks to SMECO’s volunteer employees, who make the event enjoyable, our annual bike ride has become very popular.”
Last year, SMECO employees raised $36,470 through the bike ride held in June and a charity golf tournament held in October. The events are supported by a group of volunteers, vendors, and the SMECO executive team. The Co-op selects a different organization each year to benefit from the fundraising events.
Natalie Cotton, SMECO’s community and public affairs director, added, “Our fourth annual bike ride was a great success. Proceeds for the shelters will total more than $20,000. We had 470 cyclists who participated, and thanks to the team effort and the support that our volunteers provided, cyclists passed on many compliments about the ride.”
Cotton added, “We are especially grateful to business partners who participate by donating resources to help make the SMECO 75 Bike Ride a successful fundraiser.
Major contributors include ICF International, Penn Line, Infor, J.M Tennyson Construction, Origin, Adams, Jenkins and Cheatham, CGI, Cigna Health, iFactor Consulting, New River Electric Corporation, Oracle Utilities, ProForma Johnston and Associates, Prudential, Stantec, The Meltzer Group, Barbara Ives, Booth and Associates, Cerner, EnergyHub, Good Earth Natural Foods, Integrand Information Systems, M.D. Henry Company, Manis Canning And Associates, Opower, Utilitec, and VFP, and we thank them for their contributions.”
For photos of the event, visit SMECO’s website at https://www.smeco.coop/community/smeco75.
Follow SMECO on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SMECO.coop and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/somdelectric. The SMECO 24/7 mobile app is available at www.smeco.coop/ourservices/smeco247.aspx.
