The Northern California High School Mountain Bike Racing League (NorCal League) hit its fundraising target of US$50,000 at its annual CycleFest weekend on November 7-9.
The three-day gathering in the Bay Area featured a candid, armchair interview with Tour de France hero Levi Leipheimer (Astana) at the gala dinner. A grand total of 410 people attended Friday's cocktail party, Saturday's gala dinner and auction, and Sunday's 44-mile ride with Leipheimer and 120 riders with a police escort.
Online bidding took place in the week leading up to the gala dinner. On Saturday night a selection of items were sold in a live auction where patrons of the league matched the support and appreciation of the auction donors by spending generously.
"Support for high school cycling just keeps growing and growing. A lot of people are seeing why it makes so much sense, and they're coming out to give the necessary support to help us grow. The volunteers we have now are of such a high caliber that we can organize a full weekend of activities like this for 500 people and the whole process runs like clockwork," said Justin Morgan, the Assistant Director for the NorCal League.
"Also important is that we're raising enough money to continue growing. A weekend like this is not only a really great time for all concerned, but also it fills us with hope for the future."
