Chairman steps down from St. Jude School Bikeathon
CHEBOYGAN — Retired Judge Robert Butts has announced that he is stepping down as chairman of the annual St. Jude School Bikeathon, which is held either in the spring or fall each year.
In an email, Butts said he hopes that a person or organization might step forward to continue this 44-year tradition.
Butts first started as a volunteer at the event in 1982, and then co-chaired the fundraiser with Gordon Turner and others. He took over as chairman in 2017.
In the bikeathon’s long history, over 3,500 students have raised over $200,000 for cystic fibrosis and St. Jude Children's charities.
Last spring, t-shirts and hats were delivered to area schools for the students who rode and raised over $3,000 for St. Jude Research Hospital in 2022.
Raising the most individually was Carson Crahan of Bishop Baraga in the amount of $474. Carson won a local prize of $100 donated by the Northern Lodge of the Fraternal Order Of Police, who also sponsor refreshments for the riders.
Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you
Luke Bruce of Bishop Baraga and Maisyn Tryban of Cheboygan Middle School tied for riding the most laps, at 20 cycles.
Bishop Baraga raised the most money of all the schools and will retain the all-school trophy.
Other schools that participated include Cheboygan Middle School, Cheboygan Intermediate School and Eastside Elementary.
Those interested in helping to organize this fundraiser can contact (231) 627-5421 or St. Jude c/o Yolanda Conway at yolanda.conway@alsac.stjude.org.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Chairman steps down from St. Jude School Bikeathon
