Lee Budin Memorial
Velvet Ice Cream Ride and Picnic
Saturday, July 15, 2023
The Velvet Ice Cream Ride is a Pelotonia Fundraiser by presented by teamCOPC. This ride is an excellent final tune up for those involved in Pelotonia a few weeks later, and it's an great ride and event for others as well. We will again launch from the Philip Heit Center in New Albany.
This challenging ride will be fully and safely supported. Route options will range from 25 to 100 miles, with the longer routes having more significant climbing. Lunch will be provided at Velvet for the longer routes. Following the ride, there will be a picnic for the riders at the Heit Center. All functions of the ride and picnic will conform to sensible health and safety guidelines.
The event will require significant volunteer assistance, so if you or another is able to help, please consider those opportunities also. Volunteers will receive a Pelotonia donation to a rider of their choice.
Routes, recommended start times and other details will be sent to registrants.
Ride Coordinator: Kim Beery
Initially begun as an adventurous ride with friends, it grew quickly until 2014, when Kim Beery had the vision to expand it with a picnic and fundraiser benefitting Pelotonia. Kim continues to be the master organizer of the ride and picnic, and her skills have truly made the event what it is today. If you'd like to thank Kim, feel free to do with a donation at www.Pelotonia.org.
Honoring Lee Budin, M.D.
In 2010, teamCOPC co-founder Lee Budin half-jokingly suggested we should ride our bikes to Utica for ice cream. Twenty-three riders braved the heat and the hills and did just that, and the Velvet Ice Cream Ride was born. Now, over 300 riders each year join the event, and we follow up with a picnic celebration as we all prepare for our Pelotonia rides the next month.
Unfortunately, the very battle we ride for became a battle for Lee as well, as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November, 2020. In October, 2022, after spending his final 2 weeks on a bucket list trip with some of those closest to him, Lee passed from his cancer.
Prior to his passing, Lee gave to me his consent for the renaming of this ride in his honor. Lee was a dear friend, colleague and excellent leader, and we are proud to honor him with the Lee Budin Memorial Velvet Ice Cream Ride going forward.
Thank you for riding and honoring Lee.
Mike
Buy a Velvet Ice Cream Ride Jersey
Back by popular demand, we also have Velvet Ice Cream Ride Cycling Jerseys for $75. There are women's and men's club fit sizes. These jerseys will be available for purchase at the ride.
