History of the Bike-a-Thon
The Bike-a-Thon fundraiser began as an annual fundraising event back in 1998. Known as the Tour-de-Pitlock due to the course, the Bike-a-Thon became a smash hit for professional bikers and amateurs alike. Over the years this major fundraiser has earned an average of $20,000 per year, with 2008's pledges exceeding $40,000! Our Bike-a-Thon is a major means of supplying our Annual Fund, and thanks to great community participation, GHCA continues to be able to offer quality education at an affordable tuition.
How it works
It's pretty simple, actually. Participants choose a course that they wish to bike and then gather sponsors who pledge a financial donation to GHCA's Annual Fund. There are courses for all ages and physical abilities, and there are even alternatives to biking, including the walk-a-thon and new to this year, the hike-a-thon.
What makes this event fun and memorable is the camaraderie. Often hundreds of people participate, and it's an amazing site for participants and onlookers alike as a "fleet" of bikes navigate the town roads and head out to the beautiful countryside of Maine. Registered bikers receive special GHCA Bike-a-Thon t-shirts that make the sight even more impressive! Not only is the Bike-a-Thon a great fundraising opportunity, it's a great witness to the community as well.
This Year's Event
The 13th Annual Bike-a-Thon takes place on Saturday, June 5th at Greater Houlton Christian Academy. Get there early to register. The following courses are available:
Courses
| Tour-de-Pitlock | 100 Miles | 7:00 AM |
|---|---|---|
| Tour-de-Haynesville | 60 Miles | 7:00 AM |
| Tour-de-Limerick | 33 Miles | 8:00 AM |
Tour-de-Hodgdon  | 10 Miles | 9:00 AM |
| Walk-a-Town | 5 Miles | 9:00 AM |
Prizes
Participation in the Bike-a-Thon is great fun in its own right, but the gathering of sponsors and pledges is a very important part of this fundraiser, and to help motivate you to really "go the extra mile" (yes, a pun), consider these amazing prizes:
The top three fundraisers receive their choice of one of the following:
- Fun Town trip for two nights!
- Apple iPad
- $250.00 gift card!
For every $100 raised, your name is placed in a drawing for one of three amazing prizes:
- Apple iPad
- $250.00 Gift Card
- Ice Cream Summer
- Free GHCA T-shirts for all participants!
- Free Houlton Farms Dairy ice cream, snacks, and drinks for all participants.
- Free entry to our evening spaghetti supper and awards ceremony for all participants.
The Ball Drop
All child participants are encouraged to take part in the GHCA Ball Drop around 11:00 AM. One hundred and fifty balls are dropped from Houlton's highest firetruck ladder, and children then rush to the field to gather these balls and claim their prizes! These 150 prizes include:
- Ball and glove
- Backpacks
- Fishing poles
- Super soakers
- Seasonal ice cream pass
- ...and much more!!
Register Today
We will have a downloadable PDF of our registration form available right here from this page in another day or two. Of course you can stop by the GHCA office to pick up the needed registration. Once you have this form, you'll need to fill it out and sign the waiver and return it to GHCA. There is a $20.00 registration fee for the first family member and a $10.00 registration fee for each additional member of your family. We will send you a packet of information, including a pledge sheet and map.
We ask that you do your best to collect your pledges as soon as possible, even before the Bike-a-Thon if possible.
The sooner you register, the more likely you are to receive a GHCA t-shirt in your size!
Spaghetti Supper and Awards Ceremony
Each year after the Bike-a-Thon, we have our spaghetti supper and awards ceremony at 4:30 PM. The awards are presented at 5:30 PM and stories are told throughout the night. The cost of this supper is $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for children, and the proceeds are added to the Bike-a-Thon pledges.
Our Sponsors
GHCA is grateful to the following sponsors who have helped us put together our 13th Annual Bike-a-Thon:
Greater Houlton