Cranberry Century Bike Tour to support Marshfield Ronald McDonald House

By Sandra Zygarlicke

House Director

MARSHFIELD — Pull up your bike shorts, snap on your helmet, and support children and families affected by serious illness by participating in the annual Marshfield Cranberry Century Bike Tour to be held Sunday, Sept. 20.

All proceeds from this event will support the Ronald McDonald House program of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Marshfield Inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides a temporary “home away from home” for families whose children are undergoing medical treatment at Ministry Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital or Marshfield Clinic. Since it opened on Dec. 8, 1983, the Ronald McDonald House has provided a place where over 9,000 families have found lodging, strength, and stability when their children were ill for little or no cost to them.

Choose from a 100-mile, 64-mile, 40-mile, or 20-mile bike tour route. The cost per rider is $25, and the fee includes a T-shirt, lunch and refreshments, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and cranberry coffeecake.

Thanks to The Sports Den of Marshfield, participants will have access to well-marked biking routes and a sag wagon. Thanks to the Marshfield Amateur Radio Society, there will be individuals at rest stops along the bike routes for additional support.

The Cranberry Century Bike Tour is sponsored by McDonald’s of central Wisconsin, Gordy’s Market of Spencer, the Marshfield Medical Center Credit Union, Ministry Health Care, and Hawkins Ash CPAs. T-shirt sponsors are The Boson Company, Dental Clinic of Marshfield, Felker Brothers Corp., Heinzen Printing, Security Health Plan, and Total Electric.

To register for this event, go to rmhc-marshfield.org or active.com. You may also pick up registration forms at the Ronald McDonald House, the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry, or the Sports Den in Marshfield.

Sign in on Sunday, Sept. 20, is from 7-11 a.m. at the UW-Marshfield Fine Arts Building at 2000 W. Fifth St. Bike tour stickers, T-shirts, and maps will be distributed at this time. Helmets are mandatory. It is also recommended that you carry a cellphone.