HAPPENINGS ON KSUT
KINSEE MORLAN: THE NAME IS MISLEADING, BECAUSE THE FIRST-EVER COLORADO PEACE RIDE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PROTESTING ANY WARS. INSTEAD, IT'S A NEW CHARITY RIDE THAT STARTS AND ENDS IN DURANGO AND, THROUGH REGISTRATION FEES AND DONATIONS, THE 238-MILE RIDE WILL HELP RAISE MONEY FOR SEVERAL OF THE REGION'S HUNDREDS OF NONPROFITS TO GET SOME REST AND RELAXATION THROUGH A FREE OR LOW-COST RETREAT AT THE SOPHIA PEACE CENTER IN DOLORES. COORDINATOR ANDREA COHEN SAYS NOW MORE THEN EVER, THANKS TO THE DOWNTURNED ECONOMY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THOSE WHO ARE OUT THERE HELPING OTHERS GET A CHANCE TO HELP THEMSELVES.
ANDREA COHEN: I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR NONPROFITS FOR 10 YEARS. I FEEL LIKE IT'S NEVER BEEN THIS CHALLENGNING. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SURVIVE, HOW TO HAVE THE FUNDS THEY NEED TO HAVE TO KEEP GOING. I SEE SO MANY DIRECTORS AND STAFF PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT TRYING TO SERVE PEOPLE. SO IT FEELS SO KEY TO HAVE SOME SCHOLARSHIP WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE A RETREAT AND FEEL HONORED FOR WHAT THEY DO.
IAN ENGLE: PART OF WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO USE THIS RETREAT CENTER. TIMES ARE TOUGH, I'M PERSONALLY TRYING TO REALLY COLLABORATE. SO SOME OF THE RETREATS I'M LOOKING AT ARE GONNA BE COLLABORATIVE COALITION TYPE WHERE WE BRING TOGETHER AGENCIES WITH SIMILAR MISSIONS AND CLIENTELE AND HOW CAN WE POOL OUR RESOURCES TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES.
KINSEE MORLAN: THAT WAS IAN ENGLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE, A PARTNER IN THE PEACE RIDE AND A MOTIVATED GUY IN A WHEEL-CHAIR WHO JUST GOT A HAND CYCLE AND WILL BE TRYING IT OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE PEACE RIDE. THE RIDE ITSELF IS NO CAKE WALK. IT'S A FOUR-DAY RIDE THAT TAKES CYCLISTS OVER AND THROUGH SOME OF THE REGION'S MOST DIFFICULT MOUNTAIN PASSES.
ANDREA COHEN: SO IT'S FOUR DAYS, IT STARTS AT FORT LEWIS, THE FIRST OVERNIGHT IS IN OURAY THE SECOND IS IN TELLURIDE, THEN DOLORES AND BACK TO DURANGO. IT'S A SUPPORTED RIDE AND IT'S CHALLENGING FOR A PRO IT PROBABLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED A ROUTE THEY DO REGULARLY, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T RIDE IT'S CHALLENGING. THERE ARE FOUR PASSES OVER 10,00 FEET, SO GET THE THIGH MUSCLES IN SHAPE.
IAN ENGLE: OR THE HAND MUSCLES AS THE CASE MAY BE. (LAUGHTER)
KINSEE MORLAN: THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE COLORADO PEACE RIDE IS JULY FIRST, BUT FOR THOSE WHO THINK IT SOUNDS A BIT DAUNTING, YOU CAN STILL GET INVOLVED BY BECOMING A VIRTUAL RIDER, DONATING TO A RIDER OR VOLUNTEERING AT ONE OF THE STOPS. FOR KSUT PUBLIC RADIO, I'M KINSEE MORLAN.
DJ OUTRO: AND YOU CAN REGISTER FOR THE COLORDO PEACE RIDE, DONATE OR VOLUNTEER BY GOING TO WWW.THEPEACERIDE.COM.
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