Pumpkin Pedal bike ride benefits Special Olympics

Gina Infusino biked in a group of four for this year’s Special Olympics Pumpkin Pedal — her second time cruising the Great Western Trail in the annual fundraiser.

Infusino, of Elgin, has a nephew with Down syndrome who competes in Special Olympics, but, like many other bikers Sunday, the personal connection wasn’t a prerequisite for the ride.

“If you’re going to ride anyway you might as well do it for something that’s worthwhile,” Infusino said.

Amy Wisdom and Melinda Weaver, both of St. Charles, joined Infusino for the second year in a row. They said the trail ride is not only beautiful, but family-friendly because it avoids road traffic.

The women rode 15 miles Sunday, starting and ending at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles. When they finished, they stopped for a serving of snacks and “Sloppy Dans” with other riders and Special Olympics volunteers.

Dan James, a 29-year-old Special Olympics athlete from Sugar Grove, has perfected a sloppy joe recipe over the years, making it his own. Every year he skips the cycling portion of the Pumpkin Pedal but makes plenty of Sloppy Dans for the riders. This year his parents helped him serve the 80 pounds of ground beef he put into the dish.

“It’s his way of giving back to Special Olympics for all the things they do for him,” said his mom, Judy James.

About 350 people participated in this year’s event, which featured 10-, 20- and 28-mile trail ride options, as well as a 48-mile road ride. Northeastern Illinois Special Olympics regional organizations will split the money raised in the Pumpkin Pedal — usually about $15,000 — for future competitions.

The youngest participant in Sunday’s ride was 1-year-old Livia Ferguson, who rode 17 miles in style with milk and books, pulled behind her father’s bike. Adam Ferguson runs the Special Olympics program at Community Unit School District 200 in Wheaton, where his students will see the results of the Pumpkin Pedal fundraising during competitions throughout the year. Ferguson said riding with his wife, daughter and other D-200 teachers is a way for him to support the larger Special Olympics organization.

“I’ve been doing Special Olympics for 14 years,” Ferguson said. “It’s what got me my career. It’s made my whole work possible.”