October 5, 2008 - One man bicycles 336 miles in two days – across Massachusetts – to launch the “Ride for Green,” a cycling event dedicated to raising funds for The Trustees of Reservations
WHAT: The Ride for Green: 336 miles in 2 days
WHEN: Sunday, October 5 – Monday, October 6, 2008
WHERE: From the Crane Estate, Ipswich, MA, to Field Farm in Williamstown, MA, and back.
Joe Walsmith, Ph.D. (Scituate, MA), is a member of The Trustees of Reservations’ Conservation Council, which is a group of individuals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who support the mission of The Trustees and its ongoing efforts to protect and care for the natural and cultural landscapes of New England. Joe is a former elite, amateur triathlete and a Hawaii Ironman World Championship finisher. After a 10-year hiatus from the sport of triathlon, he recently reinvigorated his love of endurance sports and long-distance bicycling by teaming up with The Trustees of Reservations to launch the first ever “Ride for Green.”
Walsmith developed the idea of the “Ride for Green” in 2007 while training for a triathlon (his first since 1997). According to Walsmith, “After ten years away from long-distance bicycling I had lost touch with how inspiring it can be. After getting back on the bike, I was immediately reminded of how wonderful it is to experience the outdoors and our beautiful natural landscapes in an unfettered and ‘green’ way; that is, with no windows and no roaring engine, just the quiet, low-carbon power of my lungs, heart, and muscles all working together – it was exhilarating.”
One morning while out on a training ride, Walsmith says, “the idea struck me” as an ideal opportunity to showcase many of the 100 properties of The Trustees of Reservations. In addition, the “Ride for Green” could raise awareness of the good work the Trustees are doing to protect New England’s natural landscapes and to preserve the health and well-being of local communities. Walsmith notes, “My wife, Janet, is Co-Chair of the Trustees’ Conservation Council, and our family loves hiking and picnicking at many of the Trustees properties. I have long been inspired by the work that Janet is doing and by the Trustees as a whole, and I wanted to do something to help.”
“It is my hope that this inaugural ride will be a galvanizing force and that others will be inspired to get involved, raise funds, and participate in the ‘Ride for Green’ next year,” Walsmith says. “The Trustees are the ‘gold standard’ in stewardship and land conservation and I am honored to be riding on their behalf.”
So Walsmith and The Trustees teamed up to establish the “Ride for Green” as the first ever bike-a-thon in Massachusetts that is dedicated to a sustainable and “green” future. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised through the “Ride for Green” will be dedicated to helping protect the more than one million acres of land across Massachusetts that are in urgent need of care.
The Trustees are accepting donations in honor of Joe’s ride and his dedication.
About the Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees are 100,000 people like you, from every corner of Massachusetts, who share a deep set of similar values – a love of the land, the outdoors, and the distinctive charms of New England – as well as a shared vision of celebrating and protecting these special places for everyone, forever. Trustees’ volunteers, members, donors, staff, and governing board all “hold in trust,” and care for 100 special places called “reservations.”
Founded in 1891 by Charles Eliot, an open space visionary and protégé of the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, The Trustees of Reservations are the nation’s oldest statewide land conservation trust and nonprofit conservation organization. With 100 reservations – all open to the public – spanning 70 communities and 25,000 acres, Trustees properties are tremendously diverse. From mountains and hilltops, to open meadows, parks, working farms, stately homes and gardens, beautiful country inns, 70 miles of stunning coastline and beaches, and five National Historic landmarks, Trustees properties offer something for everyone.
One of the largest nonprofits in the state of Massachusetts, The Trustees employ 165 full-time, 46 regular part-time, and 350–400 seasonal staff with expertise in ecology, education, historic resources, land protection, conservation, land management, and planning. To find out how to apply for employment, request a speaker for an event, become an organizational partner, interview Trustees’ experts on important topics and issues, or become a member and a “Trustee of the planet” in your community, please contact www.thetrustees.org.
Programs and Events
In addition to protecting and caring for its many properties, The Trustees also provide hundreds of year-round programs and events that inspire people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate history, nature and culture, and take advantage of the iconic landscapes and landmarks our beautiful state has to offer. Most events are free-of-charge or heavily discounted for members.
The Trustees as Conservation Leaders and Partners
A leader in the conservation movement, The Trustees have both served as a model for other land trusts, nationally and internationally, and worked with hundreds of community partners to preserve open land and the character of local communities statewide. In addition to managing and caring for 100 properties on 25,000 acres, The Trustees also hold perpetual conservation restrictions on more than 16,000 acres – a total larger than any other conservation organization in Massachusetts –permanently protecting scenic and natural areas from development. Furthermore, The Trustees have worked with communities and other conservation partners to assist in the protection of another 16,000 acres around the state. The Trustees also work with landowners in Massachusetts to encourage them to use their land for forestry, agriculture or outdoor recreation in exchange for property tax benefits.
