(ORONO, Maine) Sept. 22, 2021 – Orono Brewing Company Founder Abe Furth wants to raise $50,000 to launch the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s new Bangor-based “earn-a-bike” program—and launched a new beer and is readying his mountain bike for a trip from Maine to Washington, D.C. to raise the funds.
The 1,200-mile solo ride doesn’t begin until Saturday, Sept. 25, but Furth has already made a huge dent in the fundraising goal thanks to a number of sponsors and the debut of the new beer: One Bike IPA.
Orono Brewing Company is hosting a send-off party at noon on Saturday at its brewery and tasting room in Orono, after which Furth will point his wheels toward Washington.
“I believe in bikes as an essential tool for transportation and mental and physical health,” Furth says. “I’m excited to ride 100 miles a day for the next few weeks, share the love of biking with everyone along the way, and get bikes into the hands of people who need them most.”
The first leg of Furth’s trip will include a stop in Portland, where The Thirsty Pig on Exchange Street will be throwing a party on Monday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. to celebrate the release of the One Bike IPA and the “One Bike Can…” fundraiser. The beer will also be distributed across Maine, as well as Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Donations will go directly to the launch of the new program, which is based on the highly successful “Bikes for All Mainers” earn-a-bike program that the Bicycle Coalition of Maine helped launch in Portland in 2014, and continues to support. Some fundraising dollars will also
ensure the continued success of the Portland program, which continues to expand every year, but still garners a lengthy waitlist.
The “One Bike Can…” fundraiser has already garnered $25,000, which includes sponsorship support from the Maine Discovery Museum, First National Bank, the Craft Beer Guild of Maine, Amherst Label, Crosby Hops, Yakima Chief Hops, and Lynam Insurance.
Additionally, Hannaford Supermarkets is selling the One Bike IPA, and will donate a proceed of its sales to the fundraiser.
Furth’s bike trip will culminate in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Oct. 8, one day prior to Snallygaster, which bills itself as the city’s biggest, beastliest outdoor beer festival—and one of the biggest on the entire East Coast—and will be pouring One Bike IPA for attendees.
Interested supporters can visit bikemaine.org/earn-a-bike-program for more info and to donate, or they can mail checks to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine at 38 Diamond Street, Portland, ME 04101 with “One Bike Can…” in the memo line.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is the statewide voice of cyclists and pedestrians. Since 1992, the BCM has led the effort to make Maine better for bicycling and walking by protecting the rights and safety of cyclists and pedestrians through education, advocacy, legislation, and encouragement. We support biking and walking for health, transportation, and recreation. For more information, visit bikemaine.org.