Tour Des Trees to Kick off Bike Ride in Stamford
(STAMFORD, CT. September 17)- The annual Tour des Trees to Benefit TREE Fund bike ride will begin on September 23 in downtown Stamford following an evening at the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens the night before.
The bike ride is a fundraiser and outreach event that benefits the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund). In addition to traversing a five-day, 430-mile route starting in Stamford, crossing Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts before ending in Providence, riders will also interact with the public at various community events along the way, talking to people about the importance of trees and tree research. This year’s ride has attracted 84 riders from all over the United States plus Canada and the United Kingdom.
TREE Fund and the Tour des Trees will also help the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) celebrate their 100th anniversary by planting a tree at the Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens.
“It is great to be working with the Bartlett Arboretum and the ISA this year to help celebrate ISA’s 100th anniversary, which started at the Bartlett Arboretum,” said Jonathan Cain, Communication and Engagement Manager for TREE Fund. “When the opportunity to celebrate ISA’s 100 years in the place it started arose, we knew we had to bring the Tour des Trees to New England. The route will be beautiful and the groups we’ll be meeting along the way are excited to see us.”
Before departing on September 23, riders will stop in St. John’s Park in downtown Stamford to plant another tree in memory of one of their long-time riders.
“The Tour has been going on for over 30 years and we have had some memorable characters ride with us during that time,” said Cain. “The ability to plant a tree in their memory when we are able to is something we are always grateful for and we appreciate the help of the City of Stamford to make this happen.”
Other outreach events during the week include children’s presentations at various schools throughout the route, educational events for the public, and more tree plantings, including a final planting in Providence to end the ride. More information on where the riders will be going and the events throughout the week at TREE Fund’s website, www.treefund.org.
TREE Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support scientific discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry. The Tour des Trees bike ride is the main fundraising and community outreach event for the organization. There are 84 riders registered for this year’s ride, traveling in from all over the country and abroad. More information can be found at www.treefund.org.