Mitch's Mad Kanza Challenge to Benefit the NRVT 

"Please Help Me Raise $3000 For

The Norwalk River Valley Trail"

This just in: A fabulously generous matching donation will help us raise $6000 for the trail.... but only if I reach my $3000 goal by the time I leave for Kansas (5/29/19)

Let’s build more of this safe trail for hiking, biking and enjoying nature.

There’s is a good chance that you know I really, really, really enjoy riding my bike. On June 1st I'll be riding my bike 201 miles at this year’s DK200 to help raise funds for the Norwalk River Valley Trail (NRVT). (I guess I should say "attempting" to ride my bike 200 miles.... seemed like a good idea when I signed up)

My goal is to raise $3,000 for the NRVT, more specifically the "Redding Mile" section. I’m in for $500 and would love your help to hit the goal. If you want to help, head to the NRVT Donation page HERE , from the pull down menu on the right select "Mitch's Mad Kanza Challenge" then click the DONATE button, and make your donation. Eezy-Peezy! Thank you so much for helping with this great project!

NRVT

The Norwalk River Valley Trail [NRVT] project aims to build 30 miles of trail connecting Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, Connecticut to Rogers Park in Danbury, passing through Wilton, Ridgefield, and Redding along the way.  Eight miles have been built so far in Wilton and Norwalk. Let’s build more!

The NRVT will be a 10 foot wide, wheelchair-accessible trail creating recreation opportunities for walkers, hikers, cyclists, kids and pets.  The NRVT will offer a healthy transportation alternative to rail stations, schools, offices, and businesses.

DK200

The Dirty Kanza 200 is a 200 mile long ultra-endurance bicycling challenge, held on the gravel roads through the Flint Hills region of east-central Kansas.

The following notes from the race organizers sums up the event pretty well:

"NOTE: This is an extremely remote area. You will likely not pass through any towns, and therefore no convenience stores between checkpoints. Always be aware of the distance to the next checkpoint, and be prepared to travel that distance with the supplies you carry.

Participants are solely responsible for their personal well-being, will have to make their own informed decisions, and suffer the consequences of those decisions. Please be aware... if you break down or become injured, it is YOUR responsibility to contact your support crew to come get you. DO NOT CALL
US. WE WILL NOT COME RESCUE YOU. EVENT PROMOTERS AND SPONSORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY AND WELL-BEING."

In the thirteen years that it’s taken place, the DK200 has grown from 34 participants in 2006 to over 2,200 participants in 2018, 1000 of which will attempt the 200 mile route.

So What's The Connection?

"The NRVT is a wonderful safe place for kids to ride their bikes"

Creating a multi-use trail that passes through 5 towns and riding your bike 200 miles on dirt roads are both pretty daunting tasks. Both need proper planning, preparation and support. 

My love for cycling started as a child. I can vividly remember my first bike, a lime green CCM with banana seat, sissy bar and ape hangers.

I was lucky in the fact that I lived in a time that there weren't distracted drivers. My neighborhood was my "world" to explore on my bike. Today letting a child out on the local streets is a challenging decision for a parent to make. That's the beauty of the NRVT. I go there often with my two daughters. It's a great, safe place for them to ride.

Thanks for your help.  Just go to www.nrvt-trail.com, click on look for Mitch’s Challenge on the drop down menu, click the "donate" button and make your donation.