500-MILE BIKE RIDE ENDS IN KEY WEST; RAISES MONEY FOR INTERNATIONAL KIDS
Sixty-seven bicyclists pedaled and persevered for 500 miles on a five-day mission to raise money and awareness for global youth issues.
The 2021 Key West Bike Ride was the 10th annual ride.
The cyclists, each part of the nonprofit Ends of the Earth mission organization, left Fort Myers on March 20 and arrived in Key West March 24. The group spent the nights in host churches along the way.
This year’s Key West Bike Ride raised money and support to help combat the trafficking of children in Romania.
Although the Romanian Revolution occurred in December 1989, the effects of Communism are still evident today in the rural areas of Romania. Given the crippling socio-economic conditions, Romania ranks second among the top countries-of-origin (the country where a trafficked person came from before being trafficked) for victims of human trafficking in the European Union.
Those who live in rural or marginalized areas and those with little-to-no education are the most susceptible to fall into the hands of traffickers. Ends of the Earth’s Children-At-Risk programs currently provide material and spiritual support for more than 750 at-risk kids.
Fifteen of the 67 riders take the requisite photo at Key West’s Mile 0 — after pedaling 500 miles from Fort Myers. JOSHUA DYER/Contributed 
Kip and Beth Hamilton from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania celebrate their arrival at the Southernmost Point after pedaling 500 miles on a tandem bike. JOSHUA DYER/Contributed 
From left, Chris Furr, Bob Frankis, Bob Carman, Tim B., Lou and Harris Hickman pause to enjoy a spectacular view of the Florida Keys. JOSHUA DYER/Contributed 
From left, David and Janet Wehrle, Annie Choquette, Jay Hoss Carlson, Dona Ricciolli, Bob Koch, Dan Rabourn and Mike Bayer relax upon arrival. JOSHUA DYER/Contributed
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