MANKATO — The buzzing energy that filled the Mankato Family YMCA Saturday morning could be felt from a mile away during Partners for Housing’s 12th annual Pedal Past Poverty event.
Many participants dressed in colorful costumes as they raced on stationary bikes in the spirit of raising money for the organization.
Partners for Housing Executive Director Trisha Anderson said 22 teams raised $60,000 as of that morning.
“That money will go towards our shelter guests and program clients to be able to enhance our ability to serve them with resources beyond the funding we have through our grants,” she said.
But for many teams in the bike circle, team spirit was almost as important as the fundraising.
In one corner, participants wore mullets and colors reminiscent of the 70’s and 80’s. In another, team members didn’t let inflatable costumes slow them down.
Melissa Wagner’s team, Sweating for Shelter, opted for a Hawaiian theme Saturday.
“We came up with the name Sweating for Shelter and I was like, sweating, hot, what can we do? So we’re dressed like we’re in the tropics,” she said.
Wagner’s team, which raised just over $1,000 this year, has been participating in the event roughly since it began.
“We’ve just continued to get teams together either through our church or through some of our other groups that we know, and we always have a good time and it’s for a super cause,” she said.
The event also featured a walking option for the first time this year to open it up to participants like Paula Theissen, of the Northridge Clinic team, who said it was easier for her to do.
Walkers took to the upper deck of the gym to walk the path at the same time the bikers completed their heats.
Theissen described it as a good experience.
“I actually had a coworker friend of mine walk with me for support, but yes it’s awesome. It was quieter up there. You could just look down and watch the other pedalers going at it,” she said.
Anderson said they hope to expand the walking option in the future, adding that between 10-15 people took up the challenge this year.
“Next year we’re hoping to enhance it so that… people bring items to donate to the households that we serve,” she said.
Now in its 12th year, Anderson said the event continues to grow because the enthusiasm of the participants grows.
“The team spirit is amazing between the participants and the energy that is between each team is just phenomenal,” she said.