TAKING THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS TO THE ROAD

A local resident is taking his fight against drugs on the road.

In its third year, the Ride On Against Drugs, will see participants
mount their bicycles and travel down Highway 16 from Edmonton to
Lloydminster on Aug. 13 and 14. All funds raised will go to the Thorpe
Recovery Centre in the Border City.

"Basically, we have turned it into an annual event," said organizer
Dave Rechlo. "It started out as a stand alone individual thing, but we
had to have somewhere to donate our money to that we raised and we
have been donating it to the Thorpe (Recovery) Centre.

"We asked if they'd use it specifically in the teen ward, or the young
people's ward," he said. "Our reason being is to help get kids off
drugs, that's what we try to do."

Rechlo decided to create the event after he was personally affected
from drug use and its consequences.

"It started because a member of our extended family got tangled up
with some stuff he shouldn't have been playing with and he ended up
dead," he said. "I decided that I would take on the task of at least
trying to make sure that it wasn't all in vain."

In the first year, 12 riders set out for Saskatoon with one rider
completing the course. Last year, nine of nearly 20 riders completed
the ride.

"This year (I) don't know how many we have at this point yet, but we
are starting in Edmonton and we're ending in Lloyd and that way we're
going to have a wind up fundraiser barbecue when we come in," said
Rechlo.

In the past two years, ROAD has raised a combined $25,000.

"We are trying to raise about $20,000 this year," he said. "All riders
are welcome. No one has to complete the course. If people want to join
in and ride for 20 clicks along the way, that's awesome. We just ask
that they grab a sponsorship sheet and helps us raise a little bit of
money."

Anyone wishing to join the ride or wanting to donate can contact
Rechlo at (780)808-6819 or Krista at the Thorpe Recovery Centre.

"Everybody has a reason for doing it because I don't really know of a
family that is not affected by drugs in one way or another," he said.