It's All Relative - COBYS Family Services

Still Growing!Bike & Hike Sets New Records for Attendance, GivingThe 12th annual COBYS FamilyServices Bike & Hike set newrecords for participation anddonations, exceeding goals setfor the day.Held Sunday, September 7,at the Lititz Church of theBrethren, the event attracted601 participants and raisedmore than $75,000 for COBYSministries, with additional pledgepayments still coming in.The previous records for thisevent, set in 2007, were 550participants and $68,200.“We had another great day,”said event planner DonFitzkee. “We wereoverwhelmed with thegenerosity of the manypeople whoparticipated andthose who supportedthem.”Left: Top Bike & Hike fundraisers(from left) Marty Witman, MariCunningham, Londa Brandt, and FloyFitzkee raised nearly $19,000 inpledges, including Mari’s recordamount of $6,320.Other photos from top to bottom:Some of the 185 walkers begin theirstroll; Lois Witman (right) & Ann Saylorshare a hug. The Witmans alsoshared their grand prize with theSaylors; There was plenty of time for peekabo; TheFrederick-Rissers strike a pose prior to theirmotorcycle ride; A bowl of ice cream topped offan enjoyable ride; Some of the127 bicyclists embark.View a gallery of Bike & Hikephotos at www.cobys.org/news.The eventextended itsdecade-long stringof sunny days,dodging theremnants of atropical storm thatsoaked the region theprevious day.The Bike & Hikeincludes a three-milewalk, 10- and 25-milebicycle rides, and the60-mile Dutch CountryMotorcycleRide.Participantsincluded185walkers, 127 bicyclists, and289 motorcycle riders on180 cycles. A decrease inmotorcycle participationwas more than offset bystrong growth in the numberof walkers and bicyclists.Mari Cunninghambecame the first Bike & Hikeparticipant to raise morethan $6,000 in one year,obtaining pledges of $6,320.Grand prize winners and theirpledge amounts were: MartyWitman, $5,593; Londa Brandt,$4,480; and Floy Fitzkee, $2,450.Witman gave his prize—a patioset donated by Good’s Store—toCOBYS resource parents Dennis& Ann Saylor, who recently wererecognized for caring for their50th foster child. A 15-inch TVdonated by Tom B. Morrissey TV& Appliance went to Londa, andFostering Hope 4