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Hundreds Bike and Walk to Fight Addiction

SCRANTON — Hundreds of people participated in the 12th annual Tour De Scranton bike ride and 5K walk to benefit a drug and alcohol treatment fund. Athlete...
scr tour

SCRANTON -- Hundreds of people participated in the 12th annual Tour De Scranton bike ride and 5K walk to benefit a drug and alcohol treatment fund.

Athletes laced up their shoes and peddled around the Electric City Sunday.

"It was good. It was really good.  We wish it was a little sunnier, but it was nice," said Kate Mills of New York.

"My son and I are out for a beautiful day and it's a perfect day for a ride and it's a good way to raise funds," said Arthur Jordan of Clarks Green.

The annual noncompetitive bike and 5K walk benefits the Erin Jessica Moreken Drug and Alcohol Treatment Fund.

Moreken was a Scranton native who died at age 28 after a drug overdose.

The event was designed to help young people find treatment for their drug and alcohol addictions.

"It's absolutely thrilling to us to see the hundreds of people come. And not only just the bike riders, but also the volunteers," said treatment fund founder Tom Moreken.

More than 500 people participated in this year’s event.

Bikers were able to choose from six different routes, with trail miles ranging anywhere from five to more than 65 miles.

"The first few hills were a little difficult. Since we are new riders we aren't really experienced, but it wasn't too challenging," said Carrie Frattali of Scranton.

Those who host the event hope it will give young people battling addiction the strength to seek treatment.

"The thousands of people that donate to us either by riding or running or just general donations is doing work and helping people to live normal lives again and to remain sober from their disease," Moreken said.

All proceeds from Tour De Scranton go into the treatment fund.

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