In this season of giving Black Fly Challenge ~ Adirondack Gravel Grinder is proud to continue its tradition of reinvesting race proceeds back into the communities that make the BFC possible.
For 2019, in keeping with part of the Black Fly Challenge mission, over $49,000.00 has been donated or dedicated to local organizations, projects and funds.
Last year BFC made similar donations and dedications of more than $65,000.00, bringing the 2018-19 two year total to more than $114,000.00 reinvested into Indian Lake, Inlet and neighboring communities.
For 2019, BFC added $20,000.00 to the dedicated Trails Improvement and Sustainability Funds. Projects that will receive significant BFC funding include trail improvements at Inlet’s Fern Park and the trail from Indian Lake School to the Ski Hut and skating rink. Multi-use trail improvement, maintenance and promotion is part of the BFC mission.
Because racer, volunteer and public safety is so important BFC donated $10,000.00 to the Inlet Emergency Communications Tower Fund. This tower will provide reliable emergency communications (finally!) for Raquette Lake, Inlet, Eagle Bay, Big Moose and possibly the Moose River Plains.
In addition to the tower donation, $11,500.00 went to local ambulance corps and fire departments, including $5,500.00 to Inlet Volunteer Emergency Services for providing race day food for over 900 racers. (Indian Lake Fire Dept received a similar amount last year.) The remaining $6,000.00 was distributed to Indian Lake, Inlet and Big Moose fire and ambulance for race day EMS and traffic control.
Over $7,500.00 in additional donations were made to:
- Kiwanis of the Central Adirondacks, sponsor of Christmas for Kids and Adirondacks Kids Day.
- Home Aid Services of the Central Adirondacks, for the HASCA Companion Care Program.
- BFC Scholarships for Town of Webb School and (BFC co-host) Indian Lake School.
- St. Mary’s Church of Indian Lake, co-host of the BFC every other year.
- Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce, a BFC volunteer coordinator.
- Inlet Area Business Association, a BFC volunteer coordinator.
It’s only appropriate to give so much back because the BFC wouldn’t happen without the outstanding contributions of the communities themselves. Pre-race and race day staffing requires well over 100 volunteers – and that doesn’t include the two fire departments, three ambulance corps, multiple police agencies and over a dozen radio operators that are involved!
Our communities take pride in putting on a great event for BFC racers and fans – and the Black Fly Challenge is grateful for the opportunity to repay that dedication.
The 25th annual Black Fly Challenge will race from Inlet to Indian Lake on Saturday June 13, 2020.
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