This year Encinal Junior and Senior High School (EHS) will be one of the schools to receive funds raised by cyclists in the Ride 4 A Reason (R4R) bicycle ride event set for Saturday, April 25.

Hundreds of bicyclists from Northern California will ride from Oakland to Sacramento. The ride brings awareness to underfunded schools in California, specifically the schools in Alameda County, according to R4R’s website. 

Prospective riders can sign up for one of three distances: 45, 65 or 106 miles. The 106-mile trek will begin on 45th Street in Oakland and end at Sacramento City Hall. The 45-mile route is mostly flat. There are five rest stops, post-ride meals and car support, if needed.

EHS has significant unmet needs. Almost half of its 1,300 students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and R4R will be its single largest fundraiser. EHS has already delivered several volunteers and secured many rider commitments. EHS Principal Daniel Hurst has been a R4R rider since 2011. 

For the last 11 years, R4R has raised more than $1.1 million for public schools in Oakland. R4R’s 2019 event was record breaking with more than 300 riders raising more than $210,000. As a result, 10 schools received $17,000 each to foster student learning, growth, leadership and success.

To sign up to participate in the event or to sponsor someone, visit rideforareason.weebly.com. The organization asks that all riders raise a minimum of $250.