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‘Cranking’ for a cause

Raising money for TASK by bike

By Charles W. Kim, Packet Media Group
Despite chilly temperatures, between 30 to 40 bicyclists took to the streets Saturday afternoon to help feed the needy.
    Called “Cranksgiving,” cyclists register and are given a list of items to buy at local stores. They bring the items back for collection to then help a local food pantry or similar charity for the Thanksgiving holiday.
    The event was started in New York City in 1999 and has spread to about 60 locations throughout the country including events in Puerto Rico and Vancouver, Canada, according to the organization’s website.
    Anna D’Anna, a personal fitness trainer and owner of MIM-Multisport in West Windsor, organized the local event after learning about what was taking place in New York.
    “It was something I saw last year and wanted to (participate) in it,” she said from the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company’s firehouse on South Mill Road as she waited for the groups of riders to return with their bounty for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen. “But I saw (the announcement) too late and wondered if I could just do it (here).”
    She contacted the organization and was told she could host one locally.
    She said that the group provides basic guidance, but each event is allowed to do different things, such as wearing costumes or conducting varying contests for participants.
    “They give you an idea and you just do it,” she said, adding that she organized this event in about a month. “We are going to do it again next year and it will be bigger.”
    Riders came by the firehouse at noon to register and pick up lists for various food and other needed items valued between $15-$20 per person.
    They then rode either a 10- or 20-mile course, stopping at the participating local stores of McCaffery’s in West Windsor and Trader Joe’s in Princeton, as well as buying socks from the Pedal Stroke Spin Studio.
    After filling their shopping lists, the riders returned with the items to the firehouse where they were collected for the soup kitchen, which serves around 400 lunches a day, Ms. D’Anna said.
    “ I looked at the local (charities), but TASK was bigger,” she said.
    Other event sponsors included Prism, Ellen Calman from Gloria Nilson Realtors in Princeton and Princeton Pong, Ms. D’Anna said.
    Participating riders were made up of people from West Windsor as well as those from outside the community like Bedminster and even Pennsylvania.
    The Tan family of Robbinsville, Shea, 47, Christina, 46, and daughter Julia, 16, came out to support Ms. D’Anna.
    “I train with Anna,” Christina Tan said. “This is one of the events she does. She does a lot of fundraising events.“
    Mr. Tan said the biggest challenge for the family was finding the items in the store.
    “We spent more time looking for the food than anything else,” he said. “Other than that, it was fine. We were dressed for the weather.”
    Todd Kerekes, 51, of Bedminster came down to the event with his girlfriend to support Ms. D’Anna’s event.
    “My girlfriend Leslie is from this area and we came down to support Anna,” he said.
    Mr. Kerekes said the cold, with temperatures in the low 40s, was the most challenging part of his 20-mile route.
    “It’s all mental,” he said. “You just push through it even though it’s uncomfortable, it’s a challenge.”
    Even with the weather, he said that other riders should participate next year.
    “It’s fun,” he said.
    Two men from Morrisville, Pennsylvania, may have traveled the farthest to take part in the ride.
    Dave Carpenter, 62, and Joe Miller, 63, said they made the trip from Morrisville, Pennsylvania, to participate in the event after learning about it through the Princeton Freewheelers Club.
    For them, crossing the railroad tracks on the way back to the firehouse with about 20 pounds of groceries each was the biggest challenge of the ride.
    “It was fun, we will do it again next year,” Mr. Carpenter said. “It’s on my list.” 