by Olivia Vigiletti

For the 8th consecutive year, local nonprofit Dawn Farm has partnered with a group of University of Michigan nurses and anesthesiologists to host an event that allows people of all fitness levels to tackle the problem of addiction in our community. The 8th Annual Ride for Recovery will be held on Sunday April 30th from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Dawn Farm on Stony Creek Road in Ypsilanti. The family fitness event will include a choice from among four bike rides ranging from a simple 10k to a whopping 50 miles.

Guests who are not bicycle enthusiasts also have the option of running or walking a 5k/10k. The event will culminate in a Recovery Celebration Lunch that will celebrate our local food community—featuring donations from local businesses, as well as small scale local farmers. In addition to raising critical financial support for Dawn Farm’s treatment programs, The Ride for Recovery serves as a celebration of recovery from addiction through promoting a healthy lifestyle of exercise, connecting with the community, and great food.

Dawn Farm is a local nonprofit that assists addicts and alcoholics in achieving long-term recovery. All proceeds from this event contribute to Dawn Farm’s scholarship fund for clients who cannot afford the treatment they need.

“Given the ever-dwindling availability of public funding, community support has become more important than ever, especially for those who can’t afford to pay for treatment” says president of Dawn Farm, Jim Balmer.

The registration fee of $35 ($25 if participants register by the end of the day Saturday, April 1st!) will contribute to the care of an addict seeking help and hope at Dawn Farm. Participants have the option of creating a fundraising page as well, where family and friends can donate to support participation in The Ride. The top ten fundraisers will receive special prizes.

The support from University of Michigan healthcare workers comes from Team MANA, a bicycling group that aims to raise awareness of local charity events while promoting a healthy lifestyle for its members. Team MANA has been instrumental to the Ride for Recovery from its inception.

To register for the The Ride for Recovery, or make a donation to a Ride participant’s fundraising team, visit the registration page. Keep up to date with the latest updates on the event on Dawn Farm’s Facebook event page.