Ride for Change to Support NAACP Legal & Defense

A counterfeit $20 should not be a death sentence. Going on a run should not be a death sentence. Sleeping in your own home should not be a death sentence. Yet, three separate tragedies just this year suggest otherwise if you are a black American. The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so. many. others should not  have happened. It's time for change.

I am inviting fellow cyclists to dedicate the next month of riding for justice, equality, and peace for black Americans by riding and raising money for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. How many miles you ride is up to you. More miles and more elevation the better—but just riding is what counts. The challenge begins on June 12th and will span until July 12th. If you like having a goal to shoot for here are some to give you inspiration. The hope is that you push yourself a little bit—if you're able to :)

- Try to do a continuous ride that challenges you. It could be 50 miles, or maybe 75, or maybe 100, 200, or even 300 miles :) 
- Set a weekly goal. Try to get in a 150 miles every week!
- Like climbing? Find a hill you like and do it over and over again (if you REALLY like climbing, consider doing a  half Everest or full Everesting challenge).

The focus is not on the rides as much as it is about what they mean. I will be posting impact stories from the NAACP LDF to give a glimpse into the work they are doing and have done. You can follow those stories  here, on Instagram (@rainbolty), or on my Facebook.

And, get your buddies to join you too! This is an entirely open campaign and all cyclists of all abilities are encouraged to participate.

More information about NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is America's legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarship and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans.

The NAACP LDF was started by Thurgood Marshall, who was the former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Marshall was the Supreme Court's first black justice.

The nonprofit has an excellent charity rating, which you can see here , and read below:

NAACP Legal Defense and Education charity scores out of a maximum of 100 (100 being best):

-  Financial rating  - 84.98/100
 - Accountability & Transparency - 97.00/100