Fund drive launched for Neste Valley project

Several local cyclists will be circling the Trout Run Trail nine times in one day in July as a project to raise money for the Neste Valley Recreation Area and the Dry Run Trail.

Inspire(d) Media's Benji Nichols and West Side Dental's Dr. John Wilmes, among others, will raise donations in support of "Longest Loop," which will be a 100 mile bike ride on Saturday, July 16th--just over nine loops around the Trout Run Trail.

"We've been looking for a way to help support the Neste Valley project," said Longest Loop organizer Benji Nichols, "and I immediately thought back to the fundraising efforts made by former educator LeRoy Kopriva and golfing buddy Jim Friest." The two raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society with their "Longest Day of Golf" event. 

The Longest Loop is scheduled for Saturday, July 16th, with a rain date of July 17th.  The public is welcome to stop by on the day of the ride to cheer on the team, heckle them, or bring encouragement.  The team is asking trail supporters and the general public to make donations of any size to the project, which will help enable Neste Valley to become a reality.  More details and a donation page may be found at www.longestloop.org.
 
100 percent of donations will go to the Winneshiek County Conservation Board to fund the purchase of Neste Valley Recreation Area. The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation is the lead partner in the purchase of Neste Valley Recreation Area, which will transfer to Winneshiek County upon fundraising completion (expected by 2017). Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation accepts online gifts for the project, and each gift is applied in its entirety to Neste Valley on behalf of Winneshiek County Conservation. Longest Loop donations are a tax-deductible qualified charitable contribution.