OREGON – The Tour of Scenic Ogle County kicks off Saturday, Sept. 23 in Oregon.
TOSOC is a cycling event benefitting the Village of Progress.
“Last year we had an amazing turnout,” said Sherri Egan, community development coordinator for the Village. “We had riders from as far away as Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri. We even had a couple come up with their bikes from Texas. Many enthusiastically said they’d be returning in 2017 to for the 2ndAnnual TOSOC.”
TOSOC was developed with the help of Oregon resident and cycling enthusiast Scott Stephens. Stephens has developed a number of biking routes around Ogle County.
“Ogle County has some of the best cycling and scenery in northern Illinois” Stephens said.
TOSOC has three cycling routes to choose from. The first is a 10-mile family ride through Oregon. Developed with the help of the Oregon Park District, this ride toured a number of the city’s parks. The 32-mile route will take cyclists through Grand Detour (stopping at the John Deere Historical Museum) and the Nachusa Grasslands for Bison viewing; the 62-mile loop adds in some of the scenic areas north of Mount Morris and west of Daysville.
Last year TOSOCnetted about $11,000 for the Village’s Attendance Grant Program. Attendance Grants were developed by the Village in 2014 because so many people with disabilities, people who are entitled to services, cannot receive them because the Illinois lacks the funding. Statewide, approximately 27,000 people with developmental disabilities are on the waiting list to receive funding. Attendance grants are awarded to these men and women in Ogle County, enabling them to attend the Village on a part time basis.
Search TOSOC on Facebook for more information or contact the Village by phone at 815-732-2126 or email at TOSOC@villageofprogress.org.
