The Williams Lake Boys and Girls Club will shift gears this weekend to host its third annual mountain biking fundraising event.
Matt Neufeld, executive director with the Williams Lake Boys and Girls Club, said this year’s Shifting Gears mountain bike festival begins Sunday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m.
During last year’s Shifting Gears event riders tackled the newly opened Snakes and Ladders trail, located off of Hodgson Road above Bell-E-Acres.
Neufeld said organizers received such good feedback they decided to continue on the tradition.
“It’s a fun ride,” Neufeld said. “They’re timed, but there’s no first place, second place, or anything like that.”
Neufeld said Shifting Gears is a family-friendly ride and is non-competitive. Participants will converge at the top of Snakes and Ladders before riding down, then meet at the Boitanio Bike Park at 11:15 a.m. for a barbecue.
“It’s our major fundraiser for the year,” Neufeld said. “We are non-profit so it helps with everything we do from our after school programs to our youth centre activities and it funds our out trips — anything above and beyond our regular programming. The predominant event around here is mountain biking so it’s a great fit.”
Shifting Gears is $10 per rider or $25 per family and registration forms are available at Red Shred’s Bike and Board Shed, the Boys and Girls Club or online at www.bgcwilliamslake.com.
All of the proceeds from Shifting Gears will go toward the Williams Lake Boys and Girls Club’s after-school programs for children and youth.
Neufeld added volunteers are still needed for trail monitoring for the event and can contact him at 250-392-7530.
