Sequim Gazette staff

The effort is nationwide, the benefits are in Sequim.

The second Sequim Cranksgiving event saw 27 riders brave the wind and rain to raise and deliver 427 pounds of food and more than $600 to the Sequim Food Bank.

That’s a 33-percent increase in food and 33-percent increase in ridership from last year’s inaugural event, said ride director Tom Coonelly.

Event organizers distributed a number of special prizes, including to Bruce Woolery, fastest finisher; Julie Snelling-Young, youngest rider; Dave Collins, oldest rider; Deborah Turner, Big Kahuna (most food collected and hauled, 30 pounds); and Keith Slattery, Bob Anundson, Renee Tofts and Susan Tofts, Little Kahuna (four-way tie with 10 pounds of food collected).

Cranksgiving started in New York City in 1999 as one of several annual bike messenger “alley cat” races; each year it is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving as a way for cyclists to socialize, compete and enjoy themselves while also collecting food for local soup kitchens or food banks in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.