Two Groups Win State-Wide Honors
Two Bismarck Mandan groups recently received awards at the annual meeting of the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association (NDRPA) in Wahpeton. The groups were nominated by Bismarck Parks and Recreation District.
The NDRPA Organization Citation Award is given to honor organizations for their high impact in the community and for their influence in the lives of families. Receiving the Organization Citation Award were Sanford Health Foundation/Great American Bike Race and GO! Bismarck-Mandan.
Sanford Health and the Sanford Health Foundation created the Great American Bike race (GABR) to help pay for medical services and purchase equipment such as wheelchairs, communication devices and adaptive tricycles for children and young adults with cerebral palsy or related disabilities. The 16th annual GABR event was held in April and raised more than $340,000. The 2012 GABR involved 1,251 riders on 106 bikes pedaling a combined 7,970.3 miles. Additionally, three teams of 12 people rocked in rocking chairs during the event and raised $4,768.
GO! Bismarck-Mandan is a non-profit, volunteer based community coalition that started in 2009. The purpose of GO! Bismarck-Mandan is to create a healthier community. Some of GO! Bismarck-Mandan’s initiatives include the creation of adventure walks and other healthy activities, taking an “On the Move to Better Health” curriculum into all fourth grade classrooms in Bismarck and Mandan, and working with local restaurants to analyze menu items and provide a GO! sticker for the menu items that are the healthier choices.
Pictured, left to right: Julie Jeske, Vice President of the Bismarck Board of Park Commissioners; Alicia Uhde, President of GO! Bismarck-Mandan and Bill Bauman, Past President, GO! Bismarck-Mandan.
Pictured, left to right: Julie Jeske, Vice President of the Bismarck Board of Park Commissioners; Beth Thune, Co-Chair, Great American Bike Race; Jennifer Leingang, Sanford Health Foundation and Melanie Carvell, Co-Chair, Great American Bike Race.