The Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA) is looking for bicyclists who love exploring the scenic backroads of the upper Raritan River watershed to join its team to ride in the Gran Fondo NJ on Sunday, Sept. 9 in Morristown.
For the first time, the Bedminster-based conservation group is putting together a team of riders who will use the Gran Fondo to raise funds for and public awareness of its clean water protection programs.
Team RHA will be led by Development Director Jody Marcus and board members John Parker and Dallas Hetherington.
“I have ridden in this event before and love it because it meanders through the most bucolic parts of the Raritan watershed in Morris, Somerset and Hunterdon counties – and it has earned a Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport by being a sustainable event,” Marcus said.
A Gran Fondo – Italian for “Big Ride” – is a mass participation cycling event, not a race. The Gran Fondo is modeled after the popular cycling events that began in Italy in 1970 and spread throughout Europe.
The Gran Fondo NJ attracts a wide range of cyclists, from casual weekend riders to well-trained endurance athletes. Starting and ending in historic Morristown, it offers a choice of five routes – ranging from 18 to 107 miles – through the countryside in Morris, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.
According to Marcus, local residents can help Raritan Headwaters by riding with Team RHA and asking friends and family to make pledges based on the number of miles completed, or by supporting Team RHA with a donation.
To learn more about Gran Fondo NJ, go to https://granfondonj.com/.
About Raritan Headwaters
The largest watershed organization in New Jersey, Raritan Headwaters has been working since 1959 to protect, preserve and improve water quality and other natural resources of the Raritan River headwaters region through efforts in science, education, advocacy, land preservation and stewardship. RHA’s 470-square-mile region provides clean drinking water to 400,000 residents of 38 municipalities in Somerset, Hunterdon and Morris counties and beyond to some 1.5 million homes and businesses in New Jersey’s densely populated urban areas.
RHA has achieved statewide impact and is a proud recipient of the 2015 and 2016 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award. To learn more about Raritan Headwaters, please visit www.raritanheadwaters.org or call (908) 234-1852.
