JACKSON — Employees of Quick Chek who are members of the Quick Chek bicycle riding team, 14 cyclists in all, will be heading to Tucson, Ariz., in a few weeks to participate in a 109-mile ride that will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
The new team of employee volunteers started their training in June and will continue their preparation for the JDRF Ride for the Cure throughout October and the first two weeks of November.
“The event will start on Nov. 14,” said Jackson resident Steve Rash, who works in Quick Chek’s corporate headquarters and is one of the team’s 14 cyclists. “The company is a corporate sponsor of JDRF, and we have been involved with it for a number of years.”
Rash said he became involved in the effort directly because one of the district leaders has two children who have diabetes and it caught his heart and attention. He noted that the company’s senior vice president is the president of a local chapter of the JDRF.
Last year, Quick Chek’s Senior Vice President Mike Murphy raised a record-setting $15,000 in donations by a single individual for the JDRF after he successfully completed a 100-mile bicycle ride in the organization’s Ride for the Cure event in Whitefish, Mont.
When the announcement came of the fifth annual bicycling event, and the second time that employees from Quick Chek would be participating, not only did corporate personnel want to participate, but also employees from the company’s stores wanted to become involved.
“Most of us bought our bicycles in March or April and we have been training since June,” Rash said. “We go out on rides starting here at our corporate headquarters in Whitehouse, and on weekends Rick Wisler, another Jackson resident who works for the company, and I go out for rides.”
In addition, professional riders who are affiliated with JDRF have offered their services and on several occasions they have accompanied the amateurs on training rides.
“It’s been a good experience so far,” Rash said. “I haven’t done 100 miles yet, and I have only maxed out at 50 miles, but I am getting ready to do some 70-mile rides.”
Rash said he expects there will be about 4,000 riders in Tucson.
Wisler has been riding two days a week on his red Jamis Road bike.
“I have been building mileage,” said Wisler, who is a type 2 diabetic himself and has several family members and friends who have the disease.
Wisler said his riding experience helps to remind him he is getting older.
“JDRF is a great organization that is helping kids,” he said. “I am honored to be part of this team and [I am sure] we are going to raise a lot of money.”
Quick Chek operates 125 fresh food stores throughout New Jersey and southern New York State. The company is hoping to raise $65,000 for the JDRF nonprofit organization. Letters to the editor may be sent by email to [email protected]. Letters should be limited to 250 words. Letters may also be faxed to 732-780-4192. For more information call 732-358-5200, ext. 8278.