Kellen Lund ride will raise funds, bike safety awareness

Three years after a 9-year-old Havre boy died when he was hit by a truck while walking his bike across the street, his family, friends and their supporters are hoping to prevent such accidents from happening again.

The Third Annual Kellen Lund Memorial Bike Ride will gather hundreds of cyclists and supporters this Saturday in Pepin Park "to promote driver awareness, " as Kellen's mother, Jeri Zorn, said this morning.

"They share the road and intersections with pedestrians and bike riders too, " Zorn said.

The event begins at 9 a. m., with riding kicking off at 10:30 a. m.

There will be three rides, a 3-mile ride from Pepin Park to Havre High School, a 5-mile ride that extends more eastward, and a 10-mile ride that will make two circuits around the 5-mile path.

A barbecue lunch will follow the rides.

Cyclists will also be able to compete in events like the cone race or the slowest bike race, for a $50 Chamber Gift Certificate.

Zorn said that six or seven bicycles will be given away at this year's ride.

As an additional fundraiser, the organizers are raffling off a recently refurbished Fender Stratocaster guitar, rebuilt by Jeremy May and repainted by Chris Preputin.

The guitar is on display this week at Creative Leisure, where raffle tickets are being sold for $5 each or five for $20.

Zorn said those funds, and additional donations, would "go to music lessons for children. "

Anyone interested in participating, and receiving the events T-shirt, are encouraged to use this year's simplified registration at http://www.kellenmemorialride.org.

Zorn, who just moved back to Havre after spending two-and-a-half years in Kalispell, said it's hard to tell how much of an impact on drivers the past two years of events have had, but she finds the community's continued support encouraging.

"I know that even after the rides I see people wearing their T-shirts, and I think that's a good reminder when people see them around town, " Zorn said. "I hope it's making an impact on the drivers and bikers and making the roads safer. "