Cyclists to remember Kellen Lund

Havre Daily News/Nikki Carlson, file photo

Havre Police Department Officer Josh Holt, center, leads a pack of bicyclists beginning the 5-mile ride from Pepin Park during the Kellen Lund Memorial Bike Ride in 2010, in memory of 9-year-old Kellen Lund who died after being struck by a grain truck in 2009.

It's been two years since the community lost Kellen Lund in a tragic accident. This weekend the community will get together to remember Kellen and try to make sure accidents like his don't happen again, to make sure the loss his family and friends felt doesn't happen again.

On Saturday morning, the 2nd Annual Kellen Lund Memorial Bike Ride will bring together his family and friends, and their supporters, in Pepin Park to keep Kellen's memory alive and to raise awareness of cyclists on the road.

Jeri O'Leary, Kellen's mother, said the event should be a happy time to remember how great her son was and to cherish memories of him.

"It really is a fun event, " Jeri said. "People should come to have a good time, enjoy conversation, music and remember Kellen particularly. "

Registration for the free event begins at 9 a. m. Registration guarantees one of the event's T-shirts and a water bottle.

Jeri said that, while registration is encouraged, cyclists can participate without doing so, but if they still would like one of the shirts they should call her at 399-3338 until Friday.

The actual riding begins at 10:30 a. m. Participants will bike one of three routes.

The simplest is a 3-mile route that Jeri said is all flat ground and is designed for anyone, even smaller kids, to participate.

A 5-mile route is planned for the Bill Baltrusch Nature Trail out toward Saddle Butte.

She said she wants to do a 15-mile ride, south toward the mountains then back up into Highland Park. If that plan doesn't work, they will ride the 5-mile trail twice, for a 10-mile ride.

The rides will end where they begin, in Pepin Park, where there will be more events, including a free barbecue and competitions such as slow-riding and a cone slalom race, with $50 Havre Area Chamber of Commerce gift certificates on the line.

The Chamber is only one of the many local organizations and businesses to contribute to the event, including Holden's Hot Wheels, which will be playing music for the event and has registration forms for the ride, and Master Sports, which is contributing shirts for participants.

Jeri said 140 cyclists have already registered, and she's looking forward to more, because it might help prevent any other needless loss, like her 9-year-old boy taken by an unaware tractor trailer driver in 2009.

"The more people we have participating, the more awareness we can get out in the community and the more drivers will be careful looking out for bike riders, " Jeri said.