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Friday, March 29, 2024

The Cycle Kids charity, based in Cambridge, plans its second Breakaway Charity Ride scheduled for May 20 at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln.

If it seems odd for a charity fighting childhood obesity to make food the reward for fundraising, rest assured it’s not hot dogs awaiting bicyclists after the Breakaway Charity Ride scheduled for May 20, but a gourmet grilled meal by chef Paul O’Connell of Chez Henri. And the rides only start at five miles in length; organizers have also marked off a “scenic” 36-mile route and “hilly” 62-mile metric century.

The Cambridge-based charity Cycle Kids starts and ends the rides at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, where live bluegrass music from the Pine Hill Ramblers, lawn games and complimentary massages are planned, organizers said.

“The venue is just beautiful — arriving at the ride finish at the deCordova to see the lunch tents set up and hear the music playing gave the event such a wonderful atmosphere,” said Rebecca Fetner, a rider in last year’s inaugural event, quoted in the charity’s publicity materials. “It was the perfect end to a long ride, and a great kickoff to summer as well.”

The 62-mile ride climbs over 3,500 feet; the 36-mile route meanders through farmlands; and the five-mile family ride stops among those same farmlands, at Codman Community Farms, also in Lincoln.

The idea of the event and charity, founded by Cambridge resident Julie Idlet but launched first in Somerville in 2004, is to fight childhood obesity with a school-based program integrating bike riding in physical education classes with nutrition education, literacy and mentoring.

The registration fee is $50, with an additional fundraising minimum of $150, but participants don’t have to fundraise — there’s also a flat fee of $200 for the ride and post-ride celebration and$100 to go to the post-ride celebration only. (The ride includes snacks, fully serviced rest stops, a Breakaway bike jersey for the first 200 people registered, a Cycle Kids water bottle and ride support provide by mechanics from the Wheelworks bike shop near Porter Square. And the gourmet meal includes wine and beer brewed by Pretty Things, a project of Cambridge’s Dann and Martha Paquette.) The charity offers a business option, and children under 16 get in free.

To sign up, click here.