Sunday Tour de Newport to Benefit Children of Newport County Mental Health

Aquidneck Island roads will turn into a race course this Sunday, Sept. 19 at 9 am for the Newport County Community Mental Health Center's (NCCMHC) 2nd Annual Tour de Newport Bike-A-Thon.

Participants can choose to tackle the 10-mile, 25-mile, or 45-mile course, all of which begin and end at Rogers High School in Newport.

Spectators are welcome to come out and support the expected 150 cyclists along the route. Besides the exciting start and finish, NCCMHC recommends spectators watch from along Ocean Drive or Bellevue Avenue. Participants tackling the 25- and 45-mile courses will also breeze past Third Beach, and those continuing on the 45 mile course will also wind down Boyd's Lane and Burma Road in Portsmouth and through the Naval Base area. (See the attached course maps here at right.)

Finishers are expected to come in around the 30-minute mark for the 10-mile course, between 2 and 2.5 hours for the 25-mile course, and between the 3- and 4-hour mark for the 45-mile course.

In addition to the bike ride, a raffle offering more than $1,000 in prizes will take place the day of the Bike-A-Thon. Tickets are $1 each or six tickets for $5.

Established in 1964 with main offices based in Middletown, the Newport County Community Mental Health Center (NCCMHC) is a non-profit comprehensive behavioral health organization serving individuals and families from throughout Newport County. The NCCMHC offers emergency assessments, psychiatric evaluations and medication management, psychotherapy and mental health counseling, intensive community-based treatment, substance abuse treatment, case management, day treatment for adults and children, group home living and subsidized housing for adults. 

"The Bike-A-Thon and the funds that it will raise are extremely important to us," said Francis Paranzino, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NCCMHC. "Because of the poor economy that we are experiencing in Rhode Island and because of all the challenges that are associated with providing mental health services these days, contributions from our supporters and individuals from our community are needed more than ever."

Paranzino added, "This year our Board of Directors has dedicated results from our fund raising efforts to support our Children's Services. We see a big need for more resources and services for the children in our community."

The 2nd Annual Tour de Newport Bike-A-Thon entry fee is $25 per person or $75 per team of up to five people. Registration is open online at www.active.com through Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Registration will also be available from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on the day of the event. The first 150 people to register will receive a free t-shirt. This is a fun ride and the participants will not be timed.

Donations are also welcome and can be made here online. For additional information, go to www.nccmhc.org or call 401-846-1213.