It was a record-breaking weekend for Tour de La Porte this year, as more than 1,300 registrants from nine different states helped raise more than $70,000 to support cancer patients and their families in La Porte County.
The enhanced three-day event August 22-24 included a first-ever 5K trail run and Rotary spaghetti dinner on Friday evening, followed by running and mountain biking events on Saturday, and road cycling on Sunday. Tour de La Porte is spearheaded by The Foundation in support of IU Health La Porte Hospital to raise funds to support patients and families fighting cancer. All proceeds from the event remain in the local community.
Click here for our photos from the event!
Mark Kosior, Tour de La Porte committee chairperson, completed his first 100-mile bike ride that Sunday, and said participating in the event provides an entirely different perspective than helping to plan it.
“When you’re out on the road and you think you just can’t go one more mile, you start to realize that someone else out there is fighting a more severe battle – a cancer battle – and you know that you can keep going in their honor,” Kosior said. “The amount of community support that goes into this massive event is humbling – from sponsors, to volunteers, to committee members and participants. We had everyone from serious athletes to weekend warriors, families, children and seniors participating in all the events, and we couldn’t say thank you enough to every single person who was involved.”
Special stories this year included Jacinto Garcia, who rode his first ever cycling event with Dr. Aileen Stiller, who delivered him as a baby 13 years ago. Seven individuals completed the three-day challenge – an event on all three days of the Tour. They were: Laurel Baker, Kathleen Lang, John Ryder, Mike Steinhubel, Thor Thordarson, and Keith Baker and Josh Cook. Of those, Cook logged the most miles – about 70 total - of biking and running over the course of three days. Ryan Sobecki traveled home from South Dakota to join his father for Tour events this year, in honor of mother and wife Linda Sobecki. The Foundation assisted the Sobecki family during Linda’s battle with cancer, and participating in The Tour’s 5K walk was a proud moment for Linda before she passed away. Today, the Sobecki family, including Ryan, brother Eric and dad Jeffrey are sponsors of the event.
Maria Fruth, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Foundation, expressed sincere gratitude to event sponsors, participants and the more than 120 volunteers who helped make the event successful.
“The very morning of Tour de La Porte, I was called back to the office for an emergency evaluation of a patient with cancer who needed help to pay for her medication. That was my reminder that the event is worth every effort, and every gift,” Fruth said. “We are so grateful that our sponsors approach this event as a partnership, and truly understand the need in our community.”
Al’s Supermarkets sponsored the food for tour participants at headquarters, and served as a SAG stop for cyclists on Sunday in Michigan City. But in a special event of their own, Al’s employees wore the bright pink Tour T-shirts while working, and raised more than $5,000 for the Tour by inviting shopping customers to donate and be recognized with a card posted inside the supermarkets.
“The gift and the awareness that Al’s helped create for the Tour de La Porte really was exceptional,” Fruth said.
While most events went off without a hitch, Mother Nature did throw in a severe thunderstorm on Saturday that canceled the mountain biking events after only a few riders launched. Those who couldn’t bike, though, enjoyed a “Cook-In” at Cummings Lodge, the Tour de La Porte headquarters inside Soldiers Memorial Park. Warm and humid weather for the running and cycling events meant participants needed to stay well hydrated and protected from the sun.
“It was very hot, but the trail was in great shape despite all the rain before, and the run was good,” said Frank Aerts, who ran the 5K trail on Friday evening. Many runners opted to have water poured on them while passing the water stations during the running events.
Cyclists this year raved about the SAG stops that provided food, hydration, and entertainment along the 5, 15, 25, 40, 60 and 100-mile bike routes. They particularly complemented the stop in New Carlisle, which is only visited by those doing the 100-mile ride. Larry Noel, who first came up with the idea of the Tour 13 years ago, stocked the SAG there with tasty pasta salad, homemade breads and strawberry shortcake. Entertainment at SAGs and headquarters included James Neary and The Saucy Birds.
This year the Tour welcomed several media partners who covered the event at length, including the La Porte Herald-Argus, LaPorteCountyLife.com, What’s New La Porte, WIMS AM 1420, and WCOE 96.7 The Eagle.
Race results and other information – including early registration for next year’s event – can be found at www.tourdelaporte.org.
A special thanks goes to the Tour de La Porte committee members: Mark Kosior (chair), Jim Laughlin (co-chair), Frank Aerts, Debi Baughman, Bob Bline, Susan Brown, Davelle DeMarco, Carolyn Eyrick, Mitch Feikes, Ryan Fischer, Maria Fruth, Bill Hackney, Bob Hamilton, Shannon Hannon, Kevin Higdon, Danielle Kessler, Tom Konieczny, Andrew Lang, Ross Lawrence, DDS, Jane Nelson, Amy Newman, Larry Noel, Monica Ovalle, MD, Carl Para, Katie Piotrowicz, Ronda Powell, Jessica Romine, John Salisbury, Katie Sarver, Brendon Scott, Andy Snyder, Teri Steinhubel, Thor Thordarson, Teresa Tuholski, and Jim Vanes, DDS.
Sponsors and underwriters were: American Limb & Orthopedic Company of Valparaiso; La Porte Radiology Inc., La Porte Savings Bank; Larson-Danielson Construction Company; Newby Lewis Kaminski & Jones; Anesthesia Associates; Firstsource Advantage, LLC; Mitch Feikes Builders; TCB Manufacturing; Vision Self Pay Revenue Recovery; Well Fargo Bank; Brentwood Assisted Living; Lakeshore Bone & Joint Institute; Michiana Hematology Oncology, PC; The Sobecki Family; Al’s Supermarket; Anytime Fitness; Celgene Corporation; City of La Porte Park & Recreation Department; Truck City of Gary; Bradley Company; Pam Fleming; General Insurance Services, Inc.; Holladay Properties; Lincolnway Family Practice; Linde, LLC; Dan & Tricia Luck Family; New York Blower Company; Cerner Corporation (Marathon Plus!), EMCOR Hyre Electric Co.; Dr. & Mrs. Hyung-Chil Kang; Lewis Bakeries; MKM Architects; Qubit Networks, LLC; Remax; Dr. Chester Wilson; CSINet Internet Access Corp.; D.A. Dodd, Inc.; Mark & Laura Francesconi; Horizon Bank; Frank Aerts; Bruno Enterprises, Inc.; Michael Burns; Mark & Amy Kosior; La Porte Chrysler Dodge Jeep; Thor & Lori Thodarson; Trattoria Enzo; Dale & Teresa Tuholski.