DURHAM -- Habitat for Humanity of Durham will host its sixth annual Halloween Bike Ride at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Participating cyclists will leave Durham Bulls Athletic Park Saturday morning to ride through Durham County on 31, 62, or 100 mile routes. The ride is fully supported with rest stops along the routes and the help of the Durham County Sheriff's Office.
Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m. at the DBAP's main gate. Walk-in participants are welcome for a fee of $45. All proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Durham and help build homes, hope, and community.
As riders cross the finish line, they will get a hands-on building experience with Habitat. Cyclists can pick up a hammer and nail together components for the future Habitat home of the Billious family. After the ride, cyclists can unwind with food from Tyler's Tap Room and A Gracious Plenty Restaurant and Carolina Brewery will provide beer for riders 21 and over.
Two local bands, Sea Cow and Janet Stolp and the Best Kept Secrets, will play live.
The goal of the 2009 Habitat Bike Rides, including the July Bull Moon Ride and the October Halloween Bike Ride, is to raise the $50,000 Habitat home sponsorship for the Billious family home.
Lakenya Billious is the 33-year-old mother of a 13-year-old daughter. Lakenya's mother and nephew also live with her. Lakenya works as a child nutrition assistant with the Durham Public Schools and as a parking attendant with the City of Durham. The Billious family is thrilled to have their home sponsored by the rides and to make their dream of homeownership come true.
The Triangle is rated one of the most expensive rental markets in the state. As a result, Durham has the region's lowest home ownership rate, Habitat said.
Habitat has broken ground on more than 230 homes in Durham since 1985.
