Two Wheels, Pure Joy

Azure skies, temperatures in the mid-60s, and a gentle breeze combined to make Tour de Marco 16 a delight for riders of all levels who enjoyed 30 and 15-mile jaunts around the island Sunday morning, February 22. YMCA CEO and President Cindy Love-Abounader was on hand at the Y’s airnasium and couldn’t have been happier.

“With more than 200 riders and wonderful feedback,” Love-Abounader said, "this year’s Tour de Marco was a true celebration of community.” Tour de Marco is special to Love-Abounader because it honors one of her favorite people.

“It's named in honor of Chuck Thomas,” she said, "who was also a personal mentor to me. The ride reflects his spirit of leadership and connection. It beautifully showcases Marco Island while bringing our Y’s mission to life by helping people stay active and build relationships.”

Thomas’s family flew in from Wisconsin to attend the Tour. Son Chuck spoke about his father prior to the 30-miler, then jumped on his bike and completed the course.

Love-Abounader singled out Y healthy living director Reilly Smith, this year’s tour director, and co-chairs George Abounader and Joe Contarino, and Marco Island Academy student volunteers. “This event would not be possible without them,” she said.

"It was a success,” Smith said. "We had about 176 people sign up before the event. We closed registration on Friday and then the day of the event, sign-ups took us to just over 200 people participating in the Sweet 16 version of Tour de Marco.

Money raised by Tour de Marco is earmarked to help Y programming.

“This is a fundraising event for the YMCA,” Smith said. "So money raised goes to support the Y in general, our wellness programming. It helps us to keep our Y costs down, allowing us to provide financial assistance to those that need it and to continue adding wellness programs to those in the community and to meet the community's needs."

Smith said the Tour was run safely.

“As far as I know, there's been no problems,” she said. “We had police at two different stations, one at the Key Marco exit and the other at West Elkcam and North Collier right at the Esplanade, because both are left-hand turns. Hopefully, everyone was following all of the rules of the road, following in single file, wearing helmets, and everything like that.”