Finding the strength to challenge child abuse

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

A thousand bicycle tires will hit the pavement this weekend on a three-day course to toss a wrench in the cycle of child abuse. The 17th annual John L. Scott Foundation Courage Classic Bicycle Tour will carry determined cyclists through the Snoqualmie Pass, into eastern Washington, and back again beginning Saturday. Each rider has raised a minimum of $400 each in pledges to benefit the Rotary Endowment for the Intervention and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect at Mary Bridge Hospital in Tacoma.

Todd Kelley, manager of media and public relations for the MultiCare Health System, said the ride was originally set up in 1992.

“Since then, we’ve raised $4.9 million for the cause,” he said. “It creates a stable funding source for the examinations of victims of child abuse so there’s no cost to the family.”

Mary Quinlan, director of community services and former manager of the Child Abuse Intervention Department at Mary Bridge, said professionals in the field are trying desperately to chip away at the problem of child abuse in the community. The department is working hard to establish a protocol of effective partnerships with law enforcement and child protective services, she said.

“We really are the point of contact for families that have concerns about potential sexual and physical abuse of children. We’ve seen the number of children with sexual abuse stabilize and decrease, but unfortunately the number with physical abuse has increased.”

Quinlan is riding in the tour for the first time this year.

“I guess I’ll find out then if I’m up for the challenge,” she said. “Last week, I conquered Peacock Hill without a problem. Gig Harbor is a great training ground because of all the hills.”

Whether it’s the underlying cause, the gathering of sports enthusiasts, or a combination of both, the event is now 500 to 600 participants strong, and the riders’ optimism is definitely palpable. Several Gig Harbor residents will be sharing that enthusiasm this weekend, when they take on the Courage Classic.

“This is one of the most incredible social experiences you’ll ever have,” said 71-year-old rider Peter Norman. “It’s a wonderful event. Some sports bring out really good people and this one does.”

Norman, a volunteer at MultiCare and a rotary member, has been riding the tour annually since 1997, except for two years when he was recovering from injuries. Even then, he volunteered at the rest stops, but eventually had to get back in the game.

“I could see what was going on, and I was missing all the fun,” he said.

The 172-mile course begins in North Bend and traverses the Snoqualmie Pass into Cle Elum. Riders can camp out at Suncadia Resort and enjoy a jazz festival or stay in hotels. On Sunday, the course takes riders over Blewett Pass and on to Leavenworth. When evening falls, a high school campground in Leavenworth will host a program “that talks about why they’re there,” Kelley said. “That’s where we hand out the Becka Smith Ozias Spirit Award. It is for someone who has best captured the spirit of the event and the cause.”

The award was named in honor of a rider that was killed in an auto accident shortly after the event. Last year, the award went to Craig Davidson, who put together the largest team the Courage Classic has ever seen — 42 riders. This year, Davidson’s team is topping at about 70 members.

A pilot for Alaska Airlines, Davidson began riding in the event in 2001, after a friend’s prodding. When he discovered that his company’s chief financial officer was a bike enthusiast, he sent him an e-mail suggesting that Alaska join up as a major sponsor of the ride. The CFO agreed.

“At first I started riding for fun,” Davidson said. “But once I got to know about the cause and what the ride was for, I told fellow pilots and bike riders, ‘We need to blow this up and make it much bigger.’ It’s a great ride for a very good cause.”

Kelley himself will be in charge of the “SAG” wagons, for “riders who are sagging.”

“We have a very strong support crew for the riders,” he said. “We don’t just put them out there and say ‘Okay, you’re on your own.’ We have six SAG crews that patrol the roads. There’s always someone out there and the riders are constantly supported.”

The Pierce County and Gig Harbor Rotary clubs have earned the reputation of making tour participants some of the best-fed athletes in a major fundraising event.

“Our club has the best food stop for the best riders,” said David Cather, President of the morning Gig Harbor Rotary Club. The rotary hosts an enormous spaghetti feed for the riders at the top of Snoqualmie Pass.

“We generally end up feeding about 800 people,” Cather added. “We play music and the riders usually get excited about coming up the hill. It’s a neat thing. The riders have so much gratitude.”

“I look forward to the rest stops,” said 17-year-old Stevie Asplund, who will be enjoying her third tour this year. “You have tons of food on this ride and they give you things like root beer floats. The spaghetti feed is my favorite.”

Asplund tackled the tour the first time when she was only 14.

“At that age you can do anything,” she said. “I’m not all that physically fit, but it does require some strength. You just have to have the endurance. You never know until you get out there.”

The tour is a family event for the Asplunds.

“My dad goes and he’s awesome,” she said. “He rides along with me. Mom comes along and caravans and stays in the hotel.”

Asplund describes the bike ride as an experience like no other.

“You just ride through this beautiful countryside and everyone is fun to talk to,” she said. “It’s not like driving in a car. You get to go to different places and you get in shape. It’s fun it’s for a good cause and its worth it.”

Several husband and wife teams will be riding the tour, including Jeff and Raquel Skoch.

“We got into riding bikes this year and decided to set some goals,” Jeff Skoch said.

“My wife started doing triathlons so I started biking so we could spend some time together.”

Pete and Vicki Judge will also be riding as a team.

“We converted to road bikes in January — we’ve been riding comfort bikes for many years,” Pete Judge said. “My wife’s quite adventurous — she likes to do what the boys do but does it as a girl.”

The pair purchased new bikes at Old Town Bicycle in Gig Harbor and has participated in the Tour de Pierce, the Tour de Kitsap and the Seattle to Portland (STP).

“Training for the STP was our main focus prior to the courage classic,” Judge said. “We’ve been on two wheels for a lot of our lives.”

Reach reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.