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Fund # CL876, MCLF Fund P.O. Box 1636, Wilmington, DE 19899.
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COMPLETED: Saturday August 13th.
The nonprofit Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware will benefit from a multicourse bicycle ride this weekend that honors a late athlete who supported the statewide youth organization for more than 30 years.
The Fourth Annual Mike Clark Memorial Ride Saturday honors its namesake, known as "Iron Mike," who ran more than 30 marathons -- including the Boston Marathon four times -- and was a repeat competitor in the Ironman World Championship Triathlon. The event is sponsored by the nonprofit Mike Clark Legacy Foundation.
Clark suffered post-surgical complications and died suddenly in March 2008 at age 51.
"Mike was not only a great athlete, but he was a great role model to the kids for all his adult life -- and his work continues today through all his close friends, fellow athletes and foundation members," said event spokesman Edward C. Pankowski Jr., who said he feels lucky to count himself in all three of those categories.
"We miss Mike dearly," Pankowski said, "but Saturday, he will again, in spirit, be with us, friends and riders and, most importantly, the kids."
The 2010 ride drew nearly 350 bicyclists of all ages and ability.
The rain-or-shine event offers 100-kilometer and 75-mile courses for the most fit, called "Conquer the Hills," running north into Chester County, Pa.; 50- and 25-mile "Ride the Rollers" courses on more gently hilled terrain; and a six-mile guided route for children at least 8 years old, called the "Nemours Kids Ride."
Amenities include T-shirts, ample rest stops with goodies, massages and postride refreshments at a party sponsored by the Hockessin Athletic Club.
"Whether you ride or not," Pankowski said, "you can always sponsor a kid from the Boys and Girls Club who might not otherwise be able to ride."
Clark's connection with the Boys and Girls Clubs continues to serve Delaware youth through the "Mike's Team Mentoring Program" at the Clarence Fraim Boys and Girls Club on Union Street in Wilmington, he said. Its motto is "teaching excellence by academic mentoring."
The foundation joined with the club, the University of Delaware and the nonprofit organization "Connecting Generations" to help improve the club's mentoring. The foundation gave the program a boost with a $7,500 grant in Clark's memory. Clark, who lived in Brandywine Hills in Wilmington, was grants administrator for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware and volunteered with activities, according to News Journal files.
His namesake foundation, run by volunteers, welcomes any size donation, Pankowski said, and all are tax-deductible. Donations may be made at the ride, online at www.mclf.org or sent to the Delaware Community Foundation, which administers the fund. Those donations should be marked in checks' memo lines for Fund #CL876, MCLF Fund, and sent to Box 1636, Wilmington, DE 19899.
Contributions may be made through United Way of Delaware. In such cases, donors need to write "Delaware Community Foundation 22-2804785 to MCLF # CL876" as the agency name.
Originally Posted on Delaware Online.
