The inaugural She-Bikes ride raised almost $5,000 in cash and supplies for the Salem County Women’s Center. Members of the Evelyn Hill Cycling Club, which sponsored the ride, presented a check recently to Brenda Lore-Randazzo at the Evelyn Hill Cycling Center in Deerfield. Randazzo is residential manager for Salem Country’s domestic violence safe house.
The all-woman cycling club hosted this fundraising ride as a way to give back to the community, said club founder Barbara Kornbluh. Club member Kathy Tartaglia suggested supporting the women’s center.
“You have no idea the impact this money will have,” said Lore-Randazzo. She said the safe house can house up to 15 adults and children and is at capacity. The center will use the funds for a new oven and furniture, she said.
The center also assists clients who have left abusive relationships in setting up new housing. “Sometimes they arrive here with nothing,” Lore-Randazzo said.
Kornbluh said the club hopes to make She-Bikes, which registered 99 women, an annual event.
“We are grateful to all of the women who came to ride, and the many businesses who contributed to help us make the event a success,” Kornbluh said. “We’re already planning next year’s ride.”
