SHELBURNE — In a school system where the food department has put a focused effort toward increasing access to local food, especially for the high percentage of free or reduced price lunch students, one teacher from Greenfield Middle School will hit the road on two wheels this weekend to raise money to keep it growing.
Science teacher Patrick Sullivan will hop on his bicycle as soon as the sun rises Saturday to embark on his day-long Introverted Bicycle Climbing Extravanganza. The name, he said, is homage to his tendency to enjoy doing things alone.
“I’m kind of an introvert, I love solo bike rides and doing things alone, and it’s become sort of a joke so I played off that,” Sullivan said.
The proceeds, raised through pledges for every thousand feet climbed, will all go to Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, or CISA, a local organization that supports agriculture.
“I’ve always been a bike racer, but I need a reason to get up off my couch and on the bike,” Sullivan said. “I thought it’d be good to do it for a benefit rather than a race.”
CISA, he said, is a local organization with proven effectiveness.
“Being in an agricultural area and watching the news all the time, it’s like there’s nothing we can do about the horrible parts of our system,” Sullivan said. “This is one organization where we can have an impact.”
Sullivan said he expects to gain between 15,000 and 20,000 feet as he bikes from Shelburne center to the top of Mount Greylock, then back along Route 2.
So far, he’s received pledges from about 20 people, but he’s hoping for more.
To pledge money to Sullivan’s ride, visit: bit.ly/2b3IlCG
You can reach Tom Relihan at: 413-772-0261, ext 264
or: trelihan@recorder.com
On Twitter: @RecorderTom