Those wanting to take a stand for peace and justice will be wheeling and winding their way through Bethlehem again this year by participating in the Bike/Walk-a-Thon sponsored by LEPOCO (Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern) Oct. 14, beginning at Rosemont Lutheran Church, home of the LEPOCO Peace Center’s offices.

LEPOCO has worked locally since 1965 to build a just society and a peaceful world through nonviolent action, and the event aims to grow funds for its continuing work.

“It’s a healthy and fun way to support LEPOCO’s work for peace and justice,” Diane Dilendik, convener of the planning committee, said. The event was first held in 1979.

The event will kick off at Rosemont at 1705 W. Broad St., where the LEPOCO Peace Center moved its offices in June 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will gather on the front lawn beginning at 8:15 a.m. for a light breakfast, bike safety check, registration and body warm-up. Participants will leave promptly at 9 a.m.to walk 4.5 – 6.25 miles or bike 23 miles.

Each participant will ask co-workers, friends and family to sponsor them for a dollar per mile amount or a flat fee. For those not able to collect pledges, a minimum $10 self-pledge is suggested. Riders/walkers with the highest sponsorship total will be awarded gift certificates from various organizations.

When participants complete their route, pledges will be collected and go to LEPOCO, which supports nonviolence at home and abroad. The event will wrap up at Rosemont by about noon.

Nancy Tate and Mohammed Khaku are LEPOCO coordinators. Joining them in bringing the event to fruition is the planning committee, comprised of Tate; Dilendik; Scott Slingerland, director of CAT - Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, who mapped out the bike route; Amanda Zaniesienko, LEPOCO member; and Walt Garvin.

Walkers will start at Rosemont and walk through lovely West Side neighborhoods to the towpath and back on the Southside Greenway. A shuttle back to the church will be available from the parking lot near the tennis courts on Sand Island. If walkers take the shuttle, the route will be 4.5 miles, or 6.25 miles if they walk back to the church.

For riders, the route is a blend of neighborhood streets and multiuse trails that highlights how to peacefully connect the LEPOCO Peace Center to Bethlehem’s Southside Greenway Trail and the Saucon Rail Trail in Hellertown to the turnaround at Upper Saucon Township Community Park. This route is 59 percent on paved/gravel trails, 19 percent on quiet rural roads, 17 percent on neighborhood streets and 10 percent on urban connector roads. Instead of going over the mountain, riders will be going around it – there are no big hills.

Slingerland mapped out this bike route that was first used in 2021 and again last year.

“This is a great fall activity to get together, move, and meet new and old friends,” Slingerland said. “It’s a way to see and explore Bethlehem’s neighborhoods and parks.”

“The Bike/Walk-a-Thon event fostered camaraderie among the participants. It was an honor to be part of this memorable experience last year,” Khaku said.

Khaku recalled meeting and walking with 83-year-old Mimi Lang, who has a brain tumor – five years ago her doctors gave her six months to live. “We discussed her bicycle trip from Seattle to Los Angeles and her spirituality with the Quakers.

“I have no doubt that the momentum and enthusiasm generated by this event will continue to grow in the future,” Khaku said.

Maps will be provided at the start. The ride/walk will take two to four hours to complete. A LEPOCO support vehicle will be on-call to assist tired participants or riders with problems such as flat tires.

Riders must wear helmets and are encouraged to take their bikes to CAT at 1935 W. Broad St. for a complimentary mechanical safety check before the event. Please call 610-954-5744 to arrange.

The event will be held in light or intermittent rain. If there is a steady rain, call the LEPOCO Peace Center for confirmation. Rain date is Oct. 15, at noon.

Anyone interested in biking or walking may contact the LEPOCO Peace Center for pledge sheets at 610-691-8730.

For more informationon LEPOCO visitlepoco.org/.