Cyclists Pedal 500 Miles Across Central Minnesota to Build Homes and Hope

(KNSI) – The Bike.Build.Home 500, a five-day cycling fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, is taking place in central Minnesota for the first time during its 35th year.

Dozens of riders from across the state are participating in the fundraiser, which helps build affordable housing for families in need.

The cyclists are using Saint John’s Preparatory School as their base of operations and will cover 500 miles over five days through Sunday. Their routes take them through communities including Albany, Avon, Bowlus, Camp Ripley, Cold Spring, Collegeville, Holdingford, Kimball, Little Falls, Melrose, Rockville, Richmond, and St. Joseph.

On Friday, bikers will tackle their longest trek of 111 miles, with a special stop at the site of next year’s Habitat home at 1830 Trentwood Avenue in Sartell. “We’re going to ride by the build site, and bikers also have the option to either build or ride that day. And so, some people will put their bike aside and help with the foundation of that house that day,” said Planning Committee member Gene Boysen.

Boysen, who is participating in the ride, describes the event as “like a reunion.” He told KNSI News, “People ride together in groups, and it is a beautiful part of the country to ride through. It really is a neat experience to have people that you’ve ridden this ride with year after year.”

The fundraising addresses a critical need in the region. City officials say the St. Cloud area needs 1,100 new housing units as soon as possible and will require 17,000 over the next 15 years. Habitat for Humanity works to provide affordable homeownership opportunities for families who might otherwise struggle to buy a home.

The event has proven to be a significant fundraiser. Last year, when the event took place in Winona, participants raised $180,000. The funds directly support Habitat for Humanity’s mission of building homes.

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