On the California coast, a shorebird paused mid-flight—wings outstretched and buffeted by the strong ocean winds. I also stopped on my way north to the Tour of California, to visit new friends I met last fall thanks to cycling.
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| Staff & volunteers at Alpha in San Luis Obispo |
The team at Alpha in San Luis Obispo greets me with smiles and hugs. Their tiny staff and devoted volunteers help mothers and babies, providing practical help, education, and support during pregnancy and through baby’s first year. That means everything from rent money to diapers, to support groups and teaching on parenting, and more. The non-profit is providing a unique service and making the most of in-kind donations and the expertise of long-time volunteers including retired maternity nurses.
The funny thing is that this group devoted to healthy babies puts on a first class amateur cycling event as their big annual fundraiser. I met them at their race last fall, the SLO GranFondo which featured pro cyclists from the HTC-Highroad squad. The Alpha team has become expert in race organization, and most of the 600 participants would never have guessed that this top-quality event was put on by experts in breastfeeding. In the current economic environment, the race is all the more important to fund the organization, and they are already hard at work for the next SLO GranFondo set for October 15th.
The Alpha enthusiasm for healthy babies is contagious, and I got hooked last year. This new connection is just another example of the unexpected roads where cycling has taken me, far beyond the sport to welcoming and accomplished people, driving hard for a win in their own part of the world. So on my way to see the Tour of California, I stopped by to say hello.
At Alpha, the day’s tasks included organizing in-kind donations and equipment for new moms, such as gently used baby shoes, breastfeeding supplies, and a new delivery of formula. Currently, there is a special need for clothes for 12- to 24-month-olds, as well as car seats which must be new for safety reasons. The local French Hospital has a car seat drive underway for Alpha families and notes that new car seats may be purchased for donation for only $40. It is a hard year to obtain grants for those much-needed car seats. They were also working on the summer schedule for their support group for new fathers.
I was struck by the admiration they have for their clients—the new mothers and fathers. It is an honor to be there with them as they enter this new world of parenting, says Executive Director Jen Miller. She is struck by how open they are to learning and sacrificing as their goal is the best for their babies.
The SLO GranFondo: Bike for Babies is even more appealing now. A well-organized race through the beautiful rolling hills of San Luis Obispo that benefits those earnest parents and brand new babies. So glad I made time to visit these friends along the way.
Tour of California, here we come!
SLO GranFondo bike race, October 15, 2011: http://www.slogranfondo.com
Alpha Pregnancy & Parenting Support: http://www.sloalpha.org/
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