Illinois—The eighth annual Camp Akita Bike-A-Thon came to a conclusion on Sunday, May 20, at Marseilles, Ill., after the completion of the last ride in the northern part of the state. The event started in Southern Illinois on April 22. More than 125 participated in the two 50-mile bike rides.

The annual bike-a-thon is not only a fund-raiser, but also a friend-raising event. This year more than $15,700 was raised to build "Kabins 4 Kids" at Camp Akita. Prizes were awarded to those who raised the most from their sponsors. Top prize winners this year were twins, Enrique and Ariana Vaughn, who rode in memory of their grandmother, Erna Kleiboer. Logan Foll took second place, and Larry Welch, third.

Illinois Conference employee, Norma Gregory, took first prize among staff who participated. Riding in both parts of the state for her sponsors, she put 100 miles on her newly-acquired recumbent bike. She rides and raises money each year so she can give one week of summer camp to a very special young person. Most of Norma's sponsors were people from the community, including those her retired husband, Elmer, visits with at McDonald's restaurant each morning for breakfast. One of Elmer's breakfast friends logged on to the Internet (www.campakita.com) and looked up all the Camp Akita details. When invited to go to Camp Akita, Elmer's friend decided it was time she saw the camp that Norma and her husband, Elmer, talked about all the time. At the camp she met youth director Jeff Deming. Learning that he would preach at the Gregorys' church the following Sabbath, she accepted the invitation to attend church with them.

Soni Macy participated in the ride as a volunteer and produced a DVD of the bike-a-thon. A couple who sponsored Macy visited Camp Akita and volunteered there after the bike-a-thon. The couple indicated they were looking for a special project to get involved with, and quite possibly a new church family.

Adventist Midwest Health provided T-shirts for the bike-a-thon. The T-shirts proudly displayed the organization's logo and name. Riders who wore them were often asked about the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Several districts in Southern Illinois had a camp-out the weekend of their ride, and a picnic on the day of the ride. Next year, Camp Akita Bike-A-Thon coordinators plan to invite residents of the communities all along both trails to join in the ride, which will give members one more opportunity to "Touch Every 1 for Jesus."

Rachel Terwillegar, assistant to the president for communication, Illinois Conference