Austin Heil of Kenton says that Ada is the perfect location to hold a bicycle ride fund raiser. Learn more about Austin at the bottom of this interview.
Austin, we understand you are putting together your third annual Cursive Ohio Cystic Fibrosis charity bicycle ride in Ada. Tell us about it.
Austin: The event is Saturday, Aug 31, and registration starts at 7 a.m. A 64-mile loop starts at 8:30 a.m. The 32- and 15-mile loops start at 9 a.m. Lunch will start being served at 11 a.m.
Where does ride begin?
In the Ada Memorial Park. The entrance is at 3645 County Road 50.
What’s the bike ride all about?
The Cursive Ohio Ride raises support for Cystic Fibrosis.
I have the privilege of not only riding in the Cycle of Life but I get to ride this event in support of my cousin, Hannah. While living with Cystic Fibrosis, Hannah has chosen to ride 65 miles. Her determination to not let CF get the best of her will inspire anyone.
That same determination continues to inspire me in my training for triathlons. CF is a rare genetic disease found in about 30,000 people in the U.S. It causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breath over time.
Those living with this disease are moms, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, friends and co-workers, all struggling every day just to breathe and live a normal, healthy life.
I ride for them and hope others will support me in my efforts.
Describe the route.
The uniqueness to the ride is the route is that it is ridden in the same way that the Ohio State Marching Band forms script Ohio on game days. It is a fun ride.
How can you register for participate?
Click here. It will take you to the registration.
A donation of $25 is greatly appreciated. Rest stops about every 15 miles with refreshments. There will be sag support and the Kenton Amateur Radio Club will be providing assistance. Lunch will be provided. T Shirts and swag bags are limited and are a first come first serve.
Is there a Facebook page with more information?
Click here. It will take you to the Facebook.
And, what if someone wants to contact you directly?
The easiest way to contact me would be at [email protected] or on the Facebook event page.
This is your third year for the event. Give us some of the background.
The first year the event was held it was just a group of friends from the triathlon group and we rode 32 miles. Everyone enjoyed the unique ride the first year, I offered it last year and included a 15-mile route as well.
This year we are expanding the event with a 64-mile loop this year. To add to the experience, we have a limited shirts to give out on a first come basis along with offering lunch to all registered riders.
If Icon viewers would like to donate but not ride, how can we do it?
Click here for direct donation details.
Share your interests in Hardin County with Icon viewers.
I am a 6th generation farmer from Kenton and just love the support that I get from Ada.
The other reason is when designing a route like this there were many criteria that had to be met like solid parking, good roads, the roads in the right places to make the words that I want.
I serve on the Hardin County Farm Bureau board as the Vice President, Hardin County YMCA board, Kenton City School FFA Advisory board, farm with Dad, and have my Precision Agriculture business Homestead Precision Farming LLC.
After college, moving away, and coming back, one of my missions was to improve Hardin County and bring events to the communities of Hardin County. Many people in the Ada and Kenton communities have poured out time and energy to develop and continue to inspire me to make this place the best that I can.
I look at the opportunities that youth and adults have in other communities and long to offer and inspire our community to look outside the box and push their abilities to accomplish tasks in life that they never thought they were capable of.
So, with Ada being in Hardin County and a very beautiful town it was the perfect spot for the event.
