Sequim Cranksgiving event rides past 1,000-pound goal

Armed with two wheels and big hearts, community members made it a record-setting day at the 2016 Sequim Cranksgiving on Nov. 19.

With 54 participants taking part, Sequim riders (and non-riders) helped gather 1,389 pounds of food and $650 in donations for the Sequim Food Bank, exceeding the goal of 1,000 pounds, organizer Tom Coonelly said.

Earning the event’s Gigantosaurus award for most food gathered was Ken Stringer, with a record-setting 313 pounds.

Other awards went to: 13-year-old Kristina Baker, for youngest rider; the Loewe-Miller Family, the ZOOM (first family back) award; Randy Barber, for fastest finisher; the Little Kahuna award to Keith Sandel, with seven pounds of food, and an honorable mention to Reid Finfrock, who garnered 143 pounds of food to take second behind Stringer.

Also of note were participants Tracey and Abby Norman, who competed without bicycles.

The Sequim Cranksgiving team included Dave Neid-hardt, Jim Jefferson, Frank Finney, Dick Pattee, Jack Landstrom, Sheri Smith, Robert Pratt, Allen Streeter, Stan Smith, Jack Earhardt and Tom Coonelly III.

Community sponsors included Rainshadow Coffee, In Graphic Detail, All Around Bikes, Ben’s Bikes, The Bike Garage and Sound Bikes and Kayaks, and local restaurants Applebee’s, 101 Diner, Alder Wood Bistro, Baja Cantina, Black Bear Diner, Dockside Grill, Fortune Star Chinese Restaurant, IHOP, The Mariner Café, Paradise Restaurant, The Cedars at Dungeness, Westside Pizza and The Old Mill Café in Carlsborg.

The event is one of 70 across Washington — in-cluding one in Port Townsend on Nov. 19 — and one of hundreds across the U.S.