KGM Executive Director Randy Benson with Axel and Axana Merckx

Thank you to all the participants and volunteers of the 4th Annual Bikeathon – it was a huge success!

A special thanks to MaryBeth Lafferty and KGM’s own Ami Catriona for these awesome pictures of our 4th Annual Bikeathon
you can check them out on our Gallery Page

Take a look at her bio below:

Alexandra Burnham is currently a British Columbia Ambassador Candidate, representing the city of Kelowna and United Way. The program is in no way a beauty pageant, but instead promotes personal growth in the candidate’s public speaking, confidence, leadership, and time management abilities. There are also scholarships and bursaries awarded.

All of the judged events (speech night, community presentations, talent night, and pageant) will be held in Merritt August 17th and 18th.

At the pageant 3 candidates will be chosen to represent British Columbia for a year as ambassadors.

You can keep updated on Alexandra’s campaign by visiting her facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/alex.bcambassador

To inquire about Ambassador events you can email Alexandra at anburnham@gmail.com, or call 250-575-7561.

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Are you deciding whether to participate in the 4th Annual 30K Club Bikeathon with guest rider Axel Merckx?

Here is a breakdown of the day:

Date: June 16th,2012

Location: Mission Creek Greenway

Start time: 9 a.m. registration , 10 a.m. ride start
We will have a light Breakfast available before the ride starts

You can ride one loop (15km) or two loops (30km).

After the ride we will have Divine Feast Catering serving lunch

We will also be handing out prizing for Top Adult (Female & Male) and Top Youth (Female & Male) Fundraiser as well as a number of awesome door prizes.

We expect to be wrapped up before noon.

Hope you can join us! Contact Jessica (jessica@kelownagospelmission.ca) if you have more questions.

We’ve got our routes finalized!

Click here to see map

15KM = START at the EECO centre, go down to Lakeshore and back the EECO centre – you’re done!

30KM = START at the EECO centre, go down to Lakeshore, back up to Ziprick, back down to Lakeshore, then back to the EECO centre – you’re done!

30K Club is very excited to have the support of Axel Merckx for this year’s Bikeathon. Axel has agreed to be a guest rider in our Bikeathon taking place June 16, 2012 at the Mission Park Greenway.

As you may have heard, Axel now lives in the Okanagan and hosts his own event, the Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan.

Axel Merckx is a world-renowned Belgian bicycle racing champion who retired to British Columbia, Canada, in 2007. Born in 1972 in Uccle, Belgium, Axel is the son of five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx. Although proud of his father’s exploits, Axel has himself enjoyed a superb racing career, including winning an Olympic Medal in 2004.

Axel began his professional cycling career in 1993 as a member of Team Motorola. Axel married Canadian triathlete Jodi Cross in 1997, and upon his retirement from bicycle racing in 2007, he moved with his family to Kelowna, British Columbia.

Winner of the 2000 Belgian National Championship, he has participated in eight Tours de France, finishing as the highest-placed Belgian rider six times. Axel’s other accomplishments include winning the Belgianstage wins in the Giro d’Italia and Dauphine Libere. He has also won the GP Sanson, the Tour de la Region Wallone, the Grand Prix de Wallonie, and the Tour de l’Ain.

As a member of the Belgian Olympic Cycle Racing contingent, Axel participated at the 2004 Olympics held in Athens, Greece, where he captured a bronze medal among 75 competitors. In a race that showed numerous break away attempts, it wasn’t until Paolo Bettini from Italy and Sérgio Paulinho from Portugal broke away from the group with a couple of laps remaining and opened up a comfortable gap on the final lap that an idea of the medal positions could be gained. With the peloton giving up the chase of the leaders, Axel Merckx from Belgium broke away to open up a sufficient gap for him to take bronze. Only 8 seconds separated a third place finish from the Gold Medal winner.

So we encourage you to Gear UP! Join 30K and Axel Merckx on June 16th!

Bikeathon takes place June 16, 2012 at the Mission Park Greenway. It is a non – competitive, family friendly, fun event suitable for all ages and abilities.  Register to ride, either 15km or 30km, and gather team-mates and pledges to help us reach our goal of  $30,000.

This year we are very excited to announce Belgian national cycling champion and Olympic medalist, Axel Merckx, will be a guest rider in the Bikeathon!  As you may have heard, Axel now lives in the Okanagan and hosts his own event, the Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan. So we encourage you to Gear UP! Join 30K and Axel Merckx on June 16th!

All monies raised go to the 30K Club, a monthly donor program which supports services offered to Kelowna’s Gospel Mission clients who are taking steps to transition from dependence to independence. Each month, your gift helps these clients find a home and connect with programs that ensure their long term success. To find out more about the work the 30K Club does in your community check out the website.

This year’s Bikeathon could not have happened without some great community sponsors who have come on board. We would like to make special mention of our Presenting Sponsor Vital Waters and our media sponsors Power 104 & Q 103.1.

To participate in the 4th Annual Bikeathon click on the Event Details tab.

“Olympian helps out Gospel Mission” ~ Castanet May 8, 2012

The 4th Annual 30K Club Bike-a-thon is coming your way June 16, 2012. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more details!