Pedaling for a cause

The women of Valley Girls Ride will clip into their bicycles Saturday, Oct. 17, to celebrate their tenth anniversary of continuing dedication to athleticism and altruism. The Central Valley Cycling Charitable Association puts together the annual cycling competition, which begins at Wild Water Adventure Park in Clovis.

“CVCCA is a fundraising organization that raises money for local charities. There are many events throughout the year,” said Jonna Hooker, the coach of Clovis Hills Women on Wheels, commonly known as Clovis Hills WOW.

Clovis Hills WOW has been training since July for the Valley Girls Ride. According to Hooker, the real driving force behind Clovis Hills WOW is team manager Patty Thompson.

“Patty Thompson is part of CVCCA and tried to get people to join Clovis Hills WOW to support [CVCCA],” Hooker said. “I started cycling many years ago for exercise, but then nine years ago Patty Thompson asked me to help coach the WOW girls. I love the camaraderie and having something empowering in our lives.”

While it is not mandatory to join Clovis Hills WOW in order to participate in Valley Girls Ride, many women choose to join so they can prepare themselves for the race in October, Hooker said.

“Clovis Hills WOW is specifically designed to train for this event,” she said. “The girls all keep in touch through Facebook and everything when it’s over.”

Valley Girls Ride not only serves a charitable function, but it also serves to commemorate the legacy of a special individual. Marsha Sorenson was a retired teacher and avid volunteer in the Fresno community for many years; she was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused children and spent her time volunteering with organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Her love of charity and bikes set the foundation for the Valley Girls Ride competition we know today.

“Valley Girls Ride originated in honor of Marsha Sorenson…it was really her inspiration to create an all-women cycling event in the Valley. She actually passed away [before it was created] so a bunch of women got together to make it happen,” Hooker said.

Registration for Valley Girls Ride is still open and women who are willing to test their cycling skills can visit valleygirlsride.com to sign up.

Registration fees and times vary by course. The 10- and 20-mile rides begin at 9:30 a.m. and cost $25; the 44-mile ride begins at 9 a.m. and costs $45; the Flat Metric and Hilly Plus rides begin promptly at 8:30 a.m., costing $55. Jerseys, wind vests and socks are available for purchase.

“There is really something for every rider, from casual weekend riders to hardcore cyclists,” Hooker said.

To date, Valley Girls Ride has given away $900,000 in charitable funds to numerous organizations. This year’s beneficiaries are Freewheel Project, The Sweet Eats Program, and Caregivers Resource Center.

“It’s a wonderful event and it’s women only. Since this is the tenth year, we want to make it bigger and better,” Hooker said.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Pedaling for a cause."