Habitat board member ready for bike tour

Habitat board member ready for bike tour
By Ken Hartman
Published: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 7:59 AM EDT

Jeremy Shelton plans to make his first competitive bicycle ride a memorable one.

Shelton, a member of the local Habitat for Humanity board of directors, plans to ride May 10-16 in the Cover Indiana Bike Tour.

More than 150 bicyclists have pledged to participate in the seventh annual event. The overall goal is to increase awareness of Habitat for Humanity’s mission and the progress of 71 independent affiliates toward putting an end to poverty housing.

“Actually, I’ve been wanting to do it for the last two years, but the circumstances and timing just didn’t seem to work out,” Shelton said.

Shelton lives in Frankfort and works at LEP Special Fasteners. He calls himself an “avid bicyclist” who rides about 20 miles a day.

“I enjoy getting out in the country by yourself and everything kind of falls off, the stress and things,” he said. “Every mile out is another one you have to come back.”

Shelton said he has spent about $1,300 on a new Trek bicycle as well as a helmet and sleeping bag. That does not include the $250 entry fee plus a minimum donation of $350 which has to be raised by each participant.

“I think he’s pretty well committed,” said Steve Mullen, Habitat for Humanity board of director’s president. “I saw him out riding the other day.”

Each day, the bicyclists will cover approximately 50 to 60 miles with the first and last days being somewhat shorter rides. Each day’s route will be clearly marked and supported so the cyclists can ride at their own paces.

Riders will stay in Crawfordsville, Terre Haute, Linton, Bedford, Bloomington and Plainfield. Indoor sleeping bag space will be available as well as breakfast and dinner for each participant.

Shelton thinks he’ll be fine the first day of the event. However, he’s not sure about day two after riding all day and sleeping on a gym floor that evening.

“I’m probably going to have some sore spots,” he said. “After that, I should be all right.”

The Cover Indiana Bike Tour will have bicyclists riding on lightly traveled, paved Hoosier back roads. It will begin in Lafayette and end in downtown Indianapolis with a police escort.

“I think it’s a great thing that he is doing,” Mullen said. “He is taking a week of his time to ride in addition to raising funds for Habitat for Humanity.”

Mullen calls Shelton a “civic-minded individual” because he is also on the board at the Clinton County Humane Society.

In addition, Mullen thinks that Shelton is the first from Habitat to participate in the event.

Shelton also said as far as he knows, he is the only rider from the area.

“I requested a few people to go along, but I haven’t heard of any interest,” Shelton said. “Everybody seems to have something going on. I would have liked to have had a pack with me or people I could ride with continuously. It would have been ideal.”

Shelton has no plans for any other races and said he would continue to do the race as he long as he is capable.

Shelton has enjoyed his few years of service on the Habitat for Humanity board.

“As far as like the other boards I’ve been on, they are very agreeable, they get along very well and they seem to be of one mind,” he said. “They are doing things for the right reasons. Steve Mullen is probably one of the best people I know as far as generosity and good-natured. He is a great person.”

Proceeds raised by Shelton will benefit the affiliate in Frankfort. Anyone wishing to make donations for Shelton’s ride may mail them to Clinton County Habitat, P.O. Box 762, Frankfort, IN 46041.

Help us spread the word!

Help us spread the word about World Habitat Day! The United Nations has chosen the first Monday in October to be World Habitat Day - a day to stand up and let it be known that affordable, adequate housing should be a priority everywhere. Please click on the link below to go to a site where you can get more information. Forward the site to anyone you know that can help spread the word! Thank you!

http://worldhabitatdaynews.com/

Just getting started!

Work has just begun on the house at 1303 John Street. This house is a partnership between us and the Frankfort Building Trades class. The class will be providing a good deal of the labor needed. We will let you know of any opportunities to help on this project in the near future. As a reminder, this house is being built for Rosa Martinez and her family. There is more information on Rosa in an earlier post on this blog. We have several projects going on at once right now. Any offers of volunteer help or donations would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Steve if you can help us out in any way. Thank you!

Work at 1300 John Street

Here are some pictures of work done this past Saturday on the house at 1300 John Street. Good progress is being made. Any of you that may have seen this house when we first took it back know just how far it has come in a short time. Please contact Steve if you are willing to help on this project. We are hoping to get this house in shape to put on the market. We need to make some profits to help reduce our debt. Thanks to all who have been helping or donating!

Possible donation to Habitat

Here are some pictures of the house at 252 West Paris Street that has been offered to us as a donation. While some of the pictures may look pretty bad, those of us that have looked at it agree that it is sound and solid, and could probably be renovated and sold at a good profit. Steve will meet with the fire inspector and building inspector to see if there may be any hidden problems. We'll keep you updated on what we find out.

New partner family!

Clinton County Habitat for Humanity would like to welcome Rosa Martinez and her children as our newest partner family! Rosa has 6 children, 5 of which will be living with her in the new home. Rosa has been employed at the Open Door Clinic and Humanitarian Community Services. She has had a couple of setbacks recently when she suffered two strokes at the end of June. Rosa is recovering, and is doing rehab in Indianapolis 3 times a week. Please join us in wishing her a speedy and complete recovery!

This house will be a partnership between us and the Frankfort Building Trades class. It will be at 1303 John Street in our subdivision. Ground has already been broken, and work has begun. Please consider making a donation to our organization. We have been working on several projects in the last couple of years, and we've had quite a bit more money going out than coming in. We need to dig ourselves out of a hole and get back in the black so we can continue to provide decent, affordable housing for the people of Clinton County. If you have any questions about this project, or any others that we're working on, please call Steve Mullen at 765-242-6877, or email him at sjmul@sbcglobal.net.

Nearing Completion!

You can click on any picture to see it in a larger size.

Here are some random pictures of work being done, almost completed work, and completed work at the Colfax house Saturday, 8/8. This house is definitely starting to look like a home! Steve and all who helped him are to be commended for doing such good work!