STOKR
Photo by Maggie Craig,
LibbyMT.com
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STOKR comes to an end
by LibbyMT.com
January 24, 2021
After 25 years, the organizers of STOKR, the Scenic Tour of the Kootenai River bike ride, have decided to end the event. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, they had to cancel the event in 2020. As the pandemic health restriction continued into 2021, they were faced with cancelling again in 2021. They considered a September date, but ultimately decided that, after 25 years, the main organizers were ready to move on with retirement and other things, and it was time to end the Mother’s Day weekend event.
STOKR has been a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity in Libby. It took two STOKRs to build one house, and riders often volunteered to help with the house building each year. STOKR might be over, but the Board will be looking at new fundraising endeavors. Building will continue. There is a house under construction in Woodway Park this summer. And in the even years, the affiliate will still do the renovation program, "A Brush with Kindness."
Below is a message from organizers Susie and Greg Rice:
"Between the pandemic -- which is preventing us from scheduling in May -- and Greg retiring on January 29, we have made the tough decision to end STOKR. Although we do have a web of people who help with the event, it is Greg and I who have pulled it all together for 25 years. The Habitat Board has looked at what it would take to pull it off and doesn’t feel they can do it.
There is talk of a gravel grinder/mountain bike event in the fall. If you are interested in the possibility of that type of ride in our beautiful corner of Montana, please email: stokrmama@gmail.com
Thanks to all of you who have participated in STOKR over the years. Fourteen families are safely and affordably sheltered because some crazy bikers came to Libby to go for a ride! Bless you!! If you’d like to come and ride some summer and have time to pound some nails or paint or shingle a roof, let us know and we’ll put you to work!"
- Susie and Greg Rice
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