Cyclists pedaled hard for Elina

2023-05-13 00:50:04

The idea came about almost ten years ago. Michael Roither and his cycling friends were planning an event. The group, which goes on weekly trips in the Mühlviertler Hügelland, wanted to encourage even more amateur athletes to cycle. A race was out of the question, instead a charity event was launched in 2014. “At that time there was a serious accident in our region. An acquaintance fell off the roof,” says Michael Roither. 752 euros collected on the first exit benefited the casualty.

The benefit ride became a fixed point for people from the region who enjoy exercise. Every year a family is helped with the entry fees. On this Holy Saturday, around a hundred participants pedaled to help Elina from Zwettl an der Rodl, who was seriously ill, and made her parents very happy: the Charity Cycle Trip Association presented the family with a donation of 14,000 euros. The solidarity between sports enthusiasts, who held out despite the rain and cold, and the sponsors is “always impressive,” says organizer Michael Roither, who already has the eighth edition of the outing in mind. Next year there will be cycling again for a good cause.