Erich Kretzinger, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Boone and Greene Counties, calls himself “one of those peculiar people who wears colorful jerseys, a funny hat (helmet, whatever) and those ridiculous Spandex biking shorts.” He says it’s an “affliction” that has caused him to complete three RAGBRAI tours and to teach indoor cycling classes. If all the miles he’s ridden amounted to anything, he would have ridden the States from coast to coast, twice.
Last July he opted to head to MinneSNOWta for a bit of a ride. He describes the Habitat 500 as “a mosquito-tempting, week-long ride of 500 miles in support of Habitat for Humanity.” This year’s Habitat 500 will visit St Joseph, Osakis, Menahga, Bemidji, Pine River and Little Falls, and Kretsinger will be on the ride.
Of course, the Habitat 500 is an opportunity to raise money for the cause. Kretzinger is looking for sponsors for his effort. He’s covering all his expenses himself, so all money pledged to him in sponsorships will go to local Habitat projects, like the Helping Hands Project now under way.
As an incentive, sponsors will have exclusive access to Kretzinger’s daily blog posts during the ride, July 13-19. “As a warning, my blog posts are not always squeaky clean and completely sane, but that’s what makes them fun to read,” he said.
“So, please sponsor my sorry butt on an insanely long bike ride to help deserving families with a hand up to safe, decent an affordable housing. Each donations comes with the enjoyable fact that it’s me, not you, having to do the riding,” he pleads.
Persons who would like to help Habitat by sponsoring Kretzinger can send checks payable to Habitat 500 to PO Box 601, Boone, IA 50036. Or, to use a credit or debit card, visit Sponsor Erich on the Habitat 500.
