By Andra Bryan Stefanoni
news@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. —
A bike ride on the ninth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, will honor a former Joplin, Mo., cyclist who was killed in Afghanistan and raise money to buy bikes for the children of U.S. troops.
The event is part of a larger ceremony and weapons display that will take place Saturday morning at the Pittsburg State University Veterans Memorial, 1090 S. Rouse Ave.
All money generated from the ride, which will include a 16-mile and 28-mile loop to and from the Veterans Memorial, will be donated to the Phil Svitak Memorial Fund, said Roger Lomshek, owner of Tailwind Cyclists, Pittsburg, which is heading up the event. The bike rides begin at 8 a.m.
“The fund is used to purchase bikes for children of soldiers and airmen who aren’t able to afford bikes for their kids,” said Lomshek, himself a veteran of the U.S. armed forces.
Lomshek said Svitak, an Army sergeant who lived in Joplin, was an avid mountain biker who served in the 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Regiment in Afghanistan.
In March 2002, he was killed during a firefight with al-Qaida and Taliban forces during what is known as the Battle of Robert’s Ridge. He was attempting to rescue a soldier who had fallen from a helicopter. Svitak was 31.
“Those who prefer to stay off the bike may instead register for a 5K run and a two-mile walk to be held that morning,” Lomshek said. “Proceeds (from those two events) will go to the local Army Reserve Family Readiness group, which helps families at home cope with their loved ones’ deployment.”
The run and walk also start at 8 a.m. at the PSU memorial.
For riders, there will be one rest stop where the short loop and long loop rides converge at Wilderness Park, 907 W. McKay St. That stop is nine miles into the 16-mile ride and 18 miles into the 28-mile ride.
Lomshek said water will be available, but riders are responsible for their own bike maintenance and refreshments.
Also that day at the Veterans Memorial, military equipment, vehicles and weapons will be on display from 8 a.m. until noon, Lomshek said. At 10 a.m., retired Brig. Gen. James AuBuchon will lead a memorial ceremony.
Want to go?
Registration for the bike ride is $10 per person. Registration for the 5K run and two-mile walk is $15 per person and includes a T-shirt. Participants may register in advance by contacting Roger Lomshek at Tailwind Cyclists, 620-231-2212, or they may sign up for any of the events from 7 to 8 a.m. Saturday.
“And Starbucks will be donating coffee to those needing a caffeine fix before the ride,” Lomshek said.
