Cycling to Help Kids – A Project Founded by Landmark Education graduate Ed Paul

Submitted by: Tony585

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.

Alpine Challenge Helps California Kids

The beneficiaries of the Alpine Challenge are local children, specifically at-risk youths from nearby high schools, who face long odds of successfully completing college. Each year, the Challenge selects two new high school students to receive funding for their first two years of college, provided they abide by a pledge to be free of crime and drugs. The recipients also receive a tutor during their high school years and a laptop computer during their senior year. All told, 14 of these at-risk teenagers are participating in the Alpine Challenge program.

Additionally, some of the money raised by the event this year is also going to the Rady Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Care Center in San Diego, which is the largest pediatric cancer care facility in Imperial and San Diego counties. The state of the art facility features the best cancer treatment available as well as social services for the whole family.

All told, about $150,000 has been raised to benefit California’s children during the eight years of the event’s existence. Furthermore, because all the people working on the Alpine Challenge are volunteers, 100% of the money raised goes to children in need.

The cycling event itself gives participants a choice of four courses. For serious enthusiasts, there is the Descano ride, a 62-mile tour of which features a 5,700 foot elevation increase during the course. For those who want an even greater challenge, or a little more time to enjoy the scenery, there’s the 72-mile Pine Valley Ride, which features almost 7,000 feet of total elevation increase.

For those not quite up to those rigorous challenges, the Event also features 20 and 30 mile rides, neither of which are particularly easy—Both require riders to go up the event’s signature climb up Dehessa Road, a five mile stretch with a 2,100 foot rise in elevation.

Beyond the steady increase in rider attendance from all over the country, the event has been enthusiastically supported by Alpine residents. Volunteers do everything from patrolling the route fixing flat tires to providing food, snacks and beverages at several aid stations along the way.

Police and emergency servides have also pitched in. The California Highway Patrol and the county Sheriff’s Department directs and diverts traffic while riders pedal through downtown Alpine, and emergency medical services are on hand as well. All in all, the Alpine Challenge looks like it will only continue to expand its ability to impact young people, provide cyclists a great challenge and inspire residents of San Diego county.