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Finish Well Ride to make next to final stop in Sylvan Lake

Alisa Duncan has riden her bike from Oklahoma to Red Deer to raise awareness for Bet Shalom
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Alisa Duncan made it to Banff on her 2,926.4 km journey from Crescent, OK to Red Deer, Alta. Duncan will be making a stop in Sylvan Lake, her last stop before reaching Red Deer, on Sept. 11. Lakestone Insurance, a major sponsor of the ride, will be hosting her before she finishes her journey. Photo Submitted

A resident of Crescent, OK has been making the long trek from Oklahoma to Red Deer on her bike all in the name of advocacy.

The 2,926.4 km journey from Oklahoma to Red Deer is to raise awareness for Bet Shalom, a home in Mexico for abandoned, impoverished and at-risk senior citizens, and is being called the Finish Well Ride.

Alisa Duncan began her trip on July 20 and will be ending it on Sept. 11 in Red Deer, but not before making a stop in Sylvan Lake at Lakestone Insurance.

According to Cody Ducharme with Lakestone Insurance, the agency is a major sponsor of the ride.

“Our CEO has bee super involved in this project and he wants to get the word out,” Ducharme said.

Bet Shalom is operated by a small group of Christian volunteers as well as some full-time staff. The house is funded mostly through foreign donations.

Duncan first became involved with the house, which serves seniors living within 10 km from Zihuatenejo in Las Pozas, after a bike ride fundraiser from Zihuatanejo to Oklahoma in 2009.

The ride in 2009 was to raise funds to build the home, the current fundraising ride is to bring awareness to it and keep it running.

“The Bet Shalom: House of Peace is a place that is taking in impoverished elderly and giving them a place to live and keep them out of such horrible conditions,” explained Ducharme.

Lakestone Insurance will be hosting an event as a stopping point for Duncan and her Finish Well Ride.

Ducharme says the event will begin at about 11 a.m. on Sept. 11, with snack and drinks available as everyone waits for Duncan to arrive.

Duncan is expected to arrive in Sylvan Lake sometime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sept. 11.

Duncan is also expected to speak to those gathered about her ride and her mission to raise awareness for the home.

“I expect she will be pretty gassed when she gets in, so the speech will probably be after she rests a bit,” Ducharme said.

According to the fundraiser’s website, www.finishwellride.com, the goal is to raise $75,000 over the course of the rise.

As of publishing, the fundraiser has raised less then 30 per cent of its goal, with $21,302 currently raised.

“We just want to do our part and lend a hand. By hosting this, we are helping to raise awareness for this cause,” explained Ducharme.

The Finish Well Ride will stop at Lakestone Insurance on Sept. 11 with an event expected to start at 11 a.m.

Ducharme said it will take place in the parking lot so many people can attend and learn about Bet Shalom and Duncan’s ride.

More information about the ride and where Duncan has been along the way can be found at www.finishwellride.com

megan.roth@sylvanlakenews.com