Alpine Challenge Helps California Kids

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by: Tony585
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Word Count: 500

Cycling to Help Kids – A Project Founded by Landmark Education graduate Ed Paul

When Ed Paul founded the Alpine Challenge out of taking Landmark Education’s Self-Expression and Leadership Program back in 2001, his initial goal was to raise money for the Kiwanis Club of Alpine to be able to send at-risk high school teens to college. Each year funds from the event were provided to fund two students funds for two years of college apiece. The plan is for the challenge to eventually raise enough money to establish a fund that can send to of these kids to school each year in perpetuity.

This year, the money raised from the challenge, which took place on April 16th, is being split—Half the funds will go towards sending two more youths to college, while the other half of the money will go the Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. In total, the Challenge has raised about $150,000 over the last eight years. A greater proportion of that money has been raised recently. The first event hosted about 70 riders; the number this year is over 600.

When Paul took the Self-Expression and Leadership Program, part of the course called for each person to design a project that benefitted their community. Paul’s choice of a bike-riding event to raise money was a natural fit for him, as he has been a riding enthusiast for a long time. The Alpine Challenge isn’t called a challenge without reason. Starting in downtown Alpine, California, a town set in rural foothills 30 miles to the east of San Diego, the course ascended swiftly and steeply into those nearby hills. Riders had a choice of course lengths. They could attempt the longer 62-mile or 72-mile ride, which featured an elevation gain of over 7,000 feet, or they could take one of the shorter courses, a 20 or 30 mile round trip. None of the courses were easy; even the shortest featured an elevation gain of over 2,000 feet before returning to the town.

The Alpine Challenge typically attracts cycling enthusiasts from all over the country, but this year’s event featured a special rider. Veteran pro Andy Hampsten, a former Tour de France participant who won the Alpe d’Huez stage of the race in 1992, and the only American winner of the Giro d’Italia (in 1988), agreed to ride in the challenge after speaking to Paul. Afterwards, Hampsten stuck around and signed autographs for the crowd.

In addition to Hampsten, a local celebrity also took part in the event—Gordy Shields of nearby El Cajon rode the 20-mile course, and has the notoriety of being the oldest participant at 90 years of age. Shields, who has ridden competitively for over 40 years, recently broke the 20-kilometre time trial national record for the 90 years and up age group. According to Paul, Shields, who has been a regular participant in the event the last several years, has been ‘adopted’ by the local community and is always an inspiration to all the other riders.