Youth bike race to fight child hunger

MARSHFIELD – A Formula 1-inspired bicycle race for children will raise funds Aug. 9 for a local program that feeds hundreds of food-insecure students each weekend.
The inaugural Marshfield Mini 500 will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 4001 S. Business Park Ave. The event is open to children 15 and younger, with entry fees of $10 per rider. Spectators and volunteers may attend for free.
All proceeds will benefit the Nutrition on Weekends program, or NOW, which provides ready-to-eat food for local children who may lack access to meals over weekends. The program has served more than 600 children weekly across multiple school districts since 2013, according to race organizers.
Recent data shows 16% to 28% of area youth report food insecurity, organizers said. The program began in 2013 after surveys revealed one in five Marshfield students had recently gone to bed hungry due to lack of food at home.
The race features four categories with varying distances and difficulty levels. “The Joyride” offers a single 0.2-mile lap for beginners, with parents allowed to walk alongside. “The Circuit Sprint” covers five laps totaling 1 mile, while “The Grand Circuit” includes 10 laps for 2 miles total.

The most challenging race, “Apex Enduro,” spans 20 laps and 4 miles, restricted to the top 20 qualifiers. The winner receives a grand prize.
The course includes Formula 1-style features such as apexes, chicanes and straightaways, with strictly enforced “no-pedal” zones to control speeds. Race marshals will monitor safety at every turn.
Timed qualifying laps will determine starting positions on the race grid. Optional T-shirts are available for $5.
The event is sponsored by Simplicity Credit Union and Premier Printing.
For registration and additional information, contact organizers at 715-305-5970 or marshfieldmini500@gmail.com.