Join us for 3rd Annual EA2EVL Fondo September 30
42-mile charity ride supports ECRT Trail
Join us on September 30 for the EA2EVL Fondo, a 42-mile epic road ride from East Aurora to Ellicottville on Saturday, September 30. The 42-mile route will venture down Route 240 through the fall foliage and rolling hills of Western New York and end with a celebration at the beautiful Holiday Valley. The best part: 100% of the proceeds benefit ECRT!
PROGRESS!
This event has SOLD OUT for two years and raised over $100,000 to support he ECRT trail. With these funds, we have removed the rails and ties, and improved the first 1.5 miles of the trail starting at the Orchard Park Village Depot. On June 17th, this section will open to the public, connecting to the 2 miles of natural surface trail open at Jewett Holmwood Road. EA2EVL 2023 funds will be used to expand and improve the trail south into the town of Aurora and West Falls.
Three ways YOU can help!
RIDE ON: If you are a biker, register today! In addition to the registration fee, we’re asking all riders to fundraise for ECRT. A minimum of $100 in donations will earn you an event shirt and tickets for food and drinks at the finish line party. If you raise $500 or more, you also get an event jersey. The top fundraiser gets to wear the coveted yellow jersey. So sign up, raise some money for ECRT, and enjoy a great fall ride! REGISTER HERE
VOLUNTEER:
We will need volunteers for the start line at 42 North in East Aurora, three water stops (Colden, Concord and West Valley), course pointers and traffic control on the route, and at the finish line party at Holiday Valley. Volunteers sign up HERE. We’ll be in touch with more specific instructions for your role.
DONATE: If you can't join us, you can still help by supporting one of the riders on our registration site HERE.
SPREAD THE WORD! Invite others to join in the fun.
Post this link to your social media: www.ea2evlfondo.com
We hope to see you on September 30th!
Volunteer Spotlight: Karen Parysek
Karen Parysek has been an active volunteer with ECRT for over 10 years and the author of several, successful grant applications as exemplified in Concord’s redecked bridges, an accessible ramp to the historic Springville Trout Pond, and our efforts to connect an elementary school bike path to our trail in Colden.
Raised on a farm in Eden, NY, Karen grew up with three siblings, as well as four children from Buffalo, fostered by her parents during her childhood years. She attended Eden Central School where she excelled in math and science. Karen was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Rochester, majoring in chemical and engineering.
After graduating, she joined Linde-Praxair where she used her problem-solving skills in a wide variety of positions: energy systems engineering, market development for materials, procurement, Six Sigma, marketing and sales. She finished her career in R&D, where she developed collaborations for emerging clean energy technologies with universities, startups and national labs, learning about the grant making ecosystem in the process. It was this experience that she has been able to directly transfer to the benefit of ECRT.
Become A Trail Expert
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What sections are open today?
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What types of activities does the trail accommodate?
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Who owns the trail? Has it been abandoned?
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What does railbanking mean?
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Who has jurisdiction over the trail?
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What is the best way to build the trail?
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Who is responsible if someone is injured on the trail? Are adjacent landowners responsible?
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Has there been recent progress on trail design?
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What next for the trail in 2023?
Become a Member:
Love the outdoors? Consider joining us. Your support helps our ongoing efforts to preserve the former rail corridor with the intent to develop it into a multi-use recreational trail. It also demonstrates community support to our local and state officials. All members will receive our newsletter as well as exclusive invitations to ECRT events. When you register, you'll also have the opportunity to indicate if you would like to further assist us by volunteering.
Learn More About ECRT:
Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and trail manager for the railbanked portion of the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Railway in Western NY. Over twenty-seven miles long, this railroad right-of-way connects the communities of Orchard Park, Aurora, West Falls, Colden, East Concord, Springville and West Valley, New York.
