This organization had not one, not two, but four very enthusiastic dedicated volunteers manning their table. They gave Lucas and I great information about how they change teenagers' lives one pedal at a time. Each year in March they round up 50 or so at-risk teens to start training for RAGBRAI. If the teen finishes RAGBRAI, they get to keep the bike, helmet and gear they were decked out with from Bike World. It sounds like a great way to get kids active, set a goal, put in the work and accomplish their goal. Volunteers can sign up to be mentors - training with the kids weekly, chaperoning events, being good examples, and building lasting relationships. There are other opportunities too, like video and photography, administrative needs, and of course, monetary donations are always welcomed. Even though I've got three sprint triathlons under my belt, I'm not sure I can commit to tackling RAGBRAI. Lucas was more than excited though since he's done RAGBRAI. He signed up for their mailing list and looks forward to the possibility of getting involved next spring.
It will never cease to amaze me how many awesome things are going on in our community. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to check in with the 499,996 other people in Des Moines...