ARTHUR — The 29th anniversary of the Bob Galloway Memorial Amish Country Bicycle Tour drew about 400 riders Saturday.
The fundraising event, which is sponsored by the Decatur Bicycle Club, is named after Galloway, a longtime member of the club who died of a heart attack in 1988 while riding his bicycle.
Hundreds of bike-riding enthusiasts come out every year to pay tribute to Galloway, including his youngest daughter, Kelly York, and her husband.
This is the second year York has participated in the bicycle tour, and she said she started to do so in memory of her father, in addition to wanting to live a healthy lifestyle.
“I’m now able to ride,” York said. “I started riding for my dad and have enjoyed it ever since.”
After getting fit and bike riding, York said she has lost more than 75 pounds.
York, a resident of Decatur, added that a wave of emotions come over her every year when she comes to Arthur for the ride.
“It’s very touching to see so many people come here,” York said. “Because dad was so involved with this event it really made me feel good when they renamed it after him — it’s very emotional for me.”
Continuing her father’s legacy is something York said she plans to do every year by riding in the bicycle tour, as well as becoming a member of the Decatur Bicycle Club.
“We are going to come back every year as long as we are healthy and able to,” York said.
Daron Drake, president of the Decatur club, said Saturday’s bicycle tour is a way for the club to give back to the Decatur community.
In the past, with the money raised during the bicycle tour in Arthur, the club has donated to the Decatur area: park benches for the bike trail, a fix-it station and construction for the bike trail, in addition to many other bicycle-related donations.
This year club members hope to give some of the proceeds back to the Arthur area to help build bike racks for community members.
“We try to give back as much as we possibly can,” Drake said.
For friends Jan Sigafus, Denise Romersberger and Kim Whitehurst, riding in the Galloway memorial tour is an activity they have participated in on and off for the past 10 years.
Whitehurst, a resident of Metamora, originally found out about the bicycle tour from her cousin and then talked Sigafus and Whitehurst into attending; all are avid bicycle riders.
“It’s a nice ride and isn’t really difficult because you have your choice of the short or long route,” Sigafus said. “Riding through Amish country is very pretty and we love the atmosphere.”
Those taking part in the bike ride had their choice of 20, 42 or 60 miles of mostly flat terrain.
The three friends decided on the easier route of 20 miles and all agreed to stop along the way to explore the Amish-owned shops.
Sigafus, Romersberger and Whitehurst said they all think exercise is important, which is one of the many reasons the trio keeps coming back to Arthur every year.
“The older you get the more you need to keep moving and the better you will be,” Sigafus said.
Contact Bilharz at sbilharz@jg-tc.com or 217-238-6839.
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