Alpine Challenge Helps California Kids

Alpine Challenge Blossoms in California Hills

When Ed Paul took Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program back in 2001, he had no idea that the project he took on would blossom into the huge event it has become for the last eight years. Paul’s annual Alpine Challenge was created to benefit at-risk teenagers in the area where he lives—Alpine is located in California foothills 30 miles to the East of San Diego.

The Alpine Challenge is named for two reasons—The first is the challenge it presents to cycling enthusiasts who participate in the charity ride each year. The second is the challenge is represents to the teens who participate in the program. The teens who accept the challenge agree to live a drug and crime free life, graduate from high school on time, and meet the requirements for getting into college. In return the Challenge, working through the Kiwanis Club of Alpine, pays for their first two years of college. While they are in high school, they students also have access to a Kiwanis mentor to help them achieve their goals. Additionally, each student receives a laptop computer in their senior year of high school in recognition of their progress.

So far, 14 students have committed themselves to the program, and 8 students are currently in college thanks to the Challenge. All told, the program has raised almost $150,000 for youths over the eight years it has been in existence. The cycling event itself has also blossomed, with 70 riders taking part in the first event in July 2001 and over 600 participating in this year’s ride which took place April 26th.

Paul is thrilled with the progress. “It is so gratifying to see the Alpine Challenge grow,” he notes. so We continually strive to provide the best ride in Southern California and based on the number of returning riders we are doing something right. We have no intention of resting on our laurels now either.”

" We take the quality of our ride very seriously. Our goal is to make sure our participants are glad to not only continue to support us but that they are happy they are recommending our ride to their friends too. This is very much a grass roots effort and it is the only way we can effectively grow.”

The ultimate goal is to raise enough money so that the two students a year can be paid for from a permanent fund, rather than just from the money raised each year. This will allow money to be spent on other projects. This year, for instance, some of the money raised is also going to the Rady Children’s Hospital.

The ride itself is also challenging, riders note. The different course options each year range from 20 to 72 miles, all of which climb steeply through the hills near Alpine—Each course features an elevation gain of 2,000-7,000 feet during the ride. The difficulty of the ride has only seemed to motivate cycling enthusiasts, who are now coming to the Challenge from all over the country.

Article Source: http://www.search4allinfo.com

Tony is author of this article on Landmark Forum. Find more information about Landmark Forum here.

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