A group bicycle ride organized by a Lake County couple raised more than $10,000 for students at Lake Technical College.
A total of 222 riders participated in the inaugural Mount Dora Live It Ride on March 5, with 100 percent of the proceeds going towards scholarships for the school, which specializes in training and certifying skilled workers.
Bill and Tracy Draper visited the Eustis campus this week to deliver a check for $10,100. They started planning the event in December with the goal of supporting a worthy cause. They recognized the value of workforce training and decided to donate to Lake Tech.
“Lake County is growing so much, and we want people to be trained, find work and stay in this area,” Tracy Draper said. “This ride was a first-time event and it was thrilling to have the support. I was pretty impressed and surprised by the amount of money that was donated.”
Tracy is no stranger to workforce training and the skilled trades. She attended the University of Georgia for one year but changed paths when she decided to pursue a certificate in cosmetology. Tracy and Bill toured the school to see what programs are being offered.
“I was very impressed with the amount of programs Lake Tech offers, the degree of technology and equipment provided, how clean and organized everything was, and just how well thought out the entire college process was from start to finish,” Tracy said.
Lake Technical College Executive Director DeAnna Thomas was grateful for the donation and said the money will be put to good use.
“These are the type of community partnerships that make the difference in a student being able to successfully complete their program,” Thomas said. “These funds will be used directly for students to reduce the barriers that hinder their success.”
Participants had three different rides to choose from: the Rubber Chicken Ride (an 18-mile photo scavenger hunt by bike), a Half Metric Century Ride (30 miles), and a Metric Century Ride (64 miles). The rides started at Gilbert Park in Mount Dora.
Plans are already under way for next year’s event, which is scheduled for March 11, 2023. Registration opens Sept. 1. Visit the website for more information.
Lake Technical College is a public, post-secondary institution that offers high quality training for over 30 career and technical programs, as well as adult education classes for GED and ESOL. The main campus is in Eustis while the Institute of Public Safety is located in Tavares. Visit the the school’s website or call (352) 589-2250 for more information.
