For more information, visit Kids ‘n Kinship and Kinship Web sites, www.kidsnkinship.org and www.kinship.org, as well as Elder’s site, www.cem900.com, where you can follow his journey, learn more about the ride or make a donation.

Fundraising bike ride to pass through southwest suburbs this week

By Karla Wennerstrom

Five years ago John Elder started riding bike. His son Christian, who was then a NASCAR driver, encouraged him, he said.
He decided to take a cross country ride a year later, biking 900 miles as a fundraiser for Kids ‘n Kinship.

Today the Christian Elder Memorial 900 is named for Christian, who died in 2007.

“He was probably one of the most exciting drivers to come out of Minnesota,” Elder said.

Elder called the Eden Prairie News last week from near Mitchell, S.D., where he was starting a windy day on the road. He’d completed 480 miles last Friday.

The first year’s ride went from Wolf Point, Mt., to Apple Valley; the second started in Cape Gerardo, Mo., last year’s ride started in Missouri as well. This year, he started in the Black Hills, which he called beautiful, but challenging.

“Those were some of the hardest days I’ve ridden,” he said.
Elder’s group includes support driver Gordy Clough, Jay Saterbak and himself. He’s the only one riding the full 900 miles. Other participants are coming out to do 300-mile legs of the journey with him, he said.

Elder, whose day job is usually serving as president of Elder Jones Inc., in Bloomington, rides 60 miles each day for 15 days to complete the 900 miles.

Elder said the riders’ pastime in the evening is to watch James Bond movies.

“We only watch the old ones starring Sean Connery,” he said. “Last night we watched ‘Goldfinger.’”

The ride ends Friday, June 12, at Merchants Bank in Apple Valley. The bank is the title sponsor of the ride, he said. Kids ‘n Kinship is headquartered in Apple Valley as well.

The last miles of the ride follow the Southwest Regional LRT Trail and pass through Victoria, Hopkins, Chaska, Eden Prairie and Shakopee, he said.

“That’s a beautiful crushed limestone trail,” Elder said. “I love riding along there.”

The goal is to raise money for the mentorship program where Elder has been a mentor for five years to Dante, now 16.

“We’ve just become, really close friends over the years. It’s a relationship we both enjoy a lot,” Elder said. He said he’s riding for the 64 children who are waiting for mentors from Kids ‘n Kinship.
“Because he was a mentor for Kids ‘n Kinship it was a natural fit for him to name us as the beneficiary,” said Jan Belmore, executive director of the organization.

The goal of the Dakota County organization is “to befriend children between the ages of 5 and 16 who are in need of additional supportive role models,” Belmore said.

A “carnival-like atmosphere” is planned for the end of the ride, with snow cones, cotton, candy and popcorn machines, she said.
“It’s a chance for us to recognize the efforts of John Elder and the riders with him as well as the donors who have made such generous contributions,” Belmore said.

“It really does make a difference in their lives,” Elder said.
Last year he raised $26,000. When he left on this year’s ride, $22,000 had been raised.

“We may not quite hit last year’s number, but with the recession our country’s dealing with I think we’re doing really, really well,” he said.

You can donate to Kids ‘n Kinship anytime. Checks can be mailed to
Kids ‘n Kinship, 14870 Granada Avenue No. 127, Apple Valley, MN 55124. For information, call 952-892-6368.

Belmore said that because of the economy the group is nervous about funds. “We very much need those donations to help sustain the program,” she said.

Track Elder’s progress at www.cem900.com, where he posts a daily log with photos from the road.

Become a mentor
Kids ‘n Kinship is holding the following orientations for those who might be interested in becoming a mentor:
* 6-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at Galaxie Library in Apple Valley
* 6-6:45 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at Wescott Library in Eagan
For more information, call 651-686-0990.
* Locally, Kinship of Greater Minneapolis offers opportunities to become a mentor to a child ages 5 to 15. For more information, visit www.kinship.org or call 612-588-4655.