Two Days, Two States, 200 Miles
Ride the WiMi Wish Ride for the Kids Who Need It Most
You’ve put some serious miles on the bike; you’ve shared some space with traffic (maybe too close for comfort), dodged a pothole or two, and lamented the starts and stops of city cycling.
Then suddenly, you have one of those rides – biking with the sunrise as the scenery blooms, or on a trek through the crisp air in fall – that reminds you why you love the sport. The noise falls away and the terrain is the challenge, not the surroundings.
This WiMi Wish Ride is one of those rides.
Join the 200-mile ride on Saturday, Aug. 9, to Sunday, Aug. 10 by signing up at wimiwishride.org.
Winding through wooded roads and along shorelines in Wisconsin and Michigan, this two-day, 200-mile fundraiser gives cyclists access to scenic, lightly traveled roads along with some family-friendly parks and activities.
“There are some pretty nice places that don’t have that much traffic,” said Paul Lata, event consultant and longtime ride director of the Menominee River Century Ride. “We’ve got a pretty good route.”
Lata – a well-known name in the cycling world – said the chance for people to cross two states makes it a standout ride.
Ride Director Glenn Costie said the locally organized event also represents another first – the collaboration between Make-A-Wish Wisconsin and Make-A-Wish Michigan.
“Participating in the WiMi Wish Ride is a historic opportunity for our riders. To our knowledge, this is the first ride that supports two state chapters of Make-A-Wish.”
Ride Director Glenn Costie
The bike ride will start in Marinette, Wisconsin, with a scenic wooded route winding through lakes and streams before ending its first day in Kingsford, Michigan.
The second day will loop back, with a different route through Menominee County in Michigan, hugging the Menominee River, and rounding the final stretch next to the pier in Menominee before crossing back over to Wisconsin’s Shore Drive in Marinette for the picture-perfect finish along the lake.
The ride route will include daily lunch stops, with volunteers from local schools and organizations serving the 200 cyclists permitted to join the event. Each participant will need to raise $550 in donations, with a registration fee of $100.
Riders – and their family and friends – will find plenty to do in the area:
- The Strong Falls Trails system in Marinette County features 12 miles of mountain biking trails, ranging from beginning to advanced.
- The Dickinson Trail Network, located in Dickinson County, is a nonprofit group of volunteers who build and maintain 40 miles of mountain bike trails in the area.
- Iron Mountain boasts the Pine Mountain Ski Jump, along with a golf course and resort. The town will be hosting Italian Fest, on the night of the ride. To join in on the fun, WiMi Wish Ride will provide a shuttle for families to and from Italian Fest.
- Cyclists can enjoy the post-ride high with a celebration at any of the plentiful restaurants in Marinette or Menominee.
It’s part vacation and part big-hearted mission: raising funds for Make-A-Wish Wisconsin and Make-A-Wish Michigan.
Rick Downs, an event organizer, said the ride represents a positive memory for the kids and families affected by critical illnesses. A long-time participant of Make-A-Wish rides in Lower Michigan, Downs spoke of a father who recognized him because they had met years earlier at a ride. The father’s son was noticeably absent.
“There was a tear in the guy’s eye, and he said, ‘Thank you for coming again,’” Downs said. “He was happy I came back, but there was sadness, because his son had passed away.”
That’s when he realized that granted wishes from Make-A-Wish weren’t just for the child – they served as a positive memory for the family during their darkest days.
“That’s why I made a commitment to do Make-A-Wish for the rest of my life”
Rick Downs, event organizer
Lata said that he hopes people experience all that the counties have to offer along the route, which will go through Marinette, Florence, Dickinson, and Menominee.
“There are lots of opportunities in Marinette and Menominee as well as in Iron Mountain and Kingsford,” Lata said. “It’s a unique distance and pairing of the states.”
Organizers are thankful for generous donations from Pieper Electric in New Berlin, Integra First Federal Credit Union in Menominee, the Goodman Armstrong Creek Lions Club, Otto’s Meats in Luxemburg, and M.J. Electric in Iron Mountain to get the ride up and running for 2025.
For more information, or to become a rider, sponsor, or volunteer, visit wimiwishride.org.
Feature Photo at top of page: The WiMi Wish Ride travels along the Menominee River, which borders Michigan and Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Val Ihde.
Bike Fed Supporters Get a Special Event Discount!
The WiMi Wish Ride is graciously offering a $10 discount for the first 50 Wisconsin Bike Fed supporters who sign up before registration is full. (+$550 fundraising per rider).
- Supporters who were already eligible for the discount should check their email inbox for messages dated April 3 & April 15, 2025 that include the exclusive code.
- Supporters who can’t find the code or new supporters who give a gift of $50+, may contact the Donor Relations Team at donorservices@wisconsinbikefed.org or 414-626-1540 for verification and to receive the code.