Riding for Habitat for Humanity with Jane Gilmore With 17 years of riding in Habitat for Humanity’s Habitat 500 bike ride, roughly 25,000 miles under her belt and helping her bike team raise over $185,000 for their local affiliate, Jane Gilmore isn’t slowing down any time soon. She’s traveled enough miles to have trekked East to West across the United States more than nine times on her bike! Gilmore and her husband, Tom, both grew up in Pennsylvania. After meeting at Penn State during college, they moved around some and finally settled in Yankton after Tom attained work through USD’s medical school. The couple have four children who remain nearby and now that Tom has retired from his work as a physician, they have more time to devote to a passion of bike riding and assisting with the Habitat for Humanity program. Their involvement with Habitat began years ago. The organization sponsored a Homebuilders Blitz Build in Eagle Butte twenty-plus years ago, where the non-profit group assists in building homes for people in need. Gilmore attended the Blitz Build and there she met the first Habitat 500 bicyclists who rode from Minneapolis to Eagle Butte to help build before getting bussed back home to Minnesota. “I wondered how someone could ride 500 miles,” she recalled. Gilmore explained that she was part of the committee that worked with Dr. Ken Halverson in getting Habitat for Humanity set up in Yankton. Dr. Halverson did the groundwork and got Habitat started in our community in 1994, which Gilmore has been involved with ever since. Never having been an avid bike rider, Gilmore chuckled, “I had what they called a ‘granny bike’” and I laughed. Her niece’s determination and commitment to a distant long distance bike ride convinced Gilmore that she could do it as well. It was her husband that sent in her application to take part in the Habitat 500 ride. As explained by Julie Dykstra, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Yankton and Clay Counties, the Habitat 500 Bike ride is a circuitous route through Minnesota, helping to raise awareness of the need for safe, affordable housing and funds for building and repairing homes in partnership with low-income families. 100% of the funds raised by Team Yankton are donated back to the local affiliate because the team opts to pay a higher entrance fee. Gilmore’s first Habitat 500 ride took place 17 years ago, in 1999 and she’s been riding ever since. The ambitious lady participated alone, Complete Dentistry For The Whole Family •Friendly Staff • Great Environment • Beautiful Smiles Missing teeth? Trouble chewing? Dr. Reardon has extensive experience in Dental Implants. Schedule an appointment today! 8vHERVOICEvMAY/JUNE 2016 You can view our website at yanktondentist.com to find out more about our office William Reardon, DDS 1100 Broadway Ave., Yankton • (605)-668-CARE:)2273 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm • Closed Saturday & Sunday