OKEECHOBEE — The annual 470-mile Tour de Florida bicycle ride to raise money and awareness for The Fuller Center for Housing’s efforts to eliminate poverty housing arrives in Okeechobee on Sunday, Feb. 1, after a 50-mile ride from Sebring. The riders will stay overnight at Church of Our Savior before resuming their journey the morning of Feb. 2 with a 77-mile ride to West Palm Beach.

Riders average 52 miles per day on their way to the Feb. 7 conclusion at the Southernmost Point in the USA.

While the Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure began with a single cross-country ride in 2008, it has grown into The Fuller Center for Housing’s single biggest fundraising and awareness event. Since its inception, the Adventure has raised more than $6.8 million with more than 2,200 riders pedaling more than 2 million cumulative miles. Along the way, they’ve also hopped off their bikes to participate in more than 350 Fuller Center builds, practicing what they preach.

This year will be the Adventure’s biggest yet with nine rides to choose from, including eight different routes ranging from 1-2 weeks. The main event is the annual cross-country ride, going this year from Oregon to Maine and covering 4,000 miles over 10 weeks. 

The enthusiastic cyclists always welcome opportunities to speak with the media as part of their mission on the ride is to spread awareness about the issue of poverty housing and what The Fuller Center does to address it through more than 100 chapters across the United States and 20 international locations. To set up a story and/or visual opportunity during the ride, contact ride media liaison Cindy Hepp at 937-244-3875.

Registration is now open at fullercenterbikeadventure.org for other rides, including the featured cross-country ride.

The Fuller Center for Housing, founded in 2005 by Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree Millard Fuller, has earned the highest-level 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.