Local non-profit BICAS is the runner-up in a GOOD Magazine and CLIFBar photo contest and will be awarded a $2,500 grant.

A public announcement about the winners will be made today.

BICAS employee Kylie Walzak said via text message that BICAS would use the money to help continue programs that aren’t yet sustaining themselves and actually cost BICAS money to run.

She said the refuge maintenance workshops, women and transgendered Sundays and art workshops are all examples of programs that cost more money to run then they bring in.

Ashley Donald, who submitted the photo, won a messenger bag filled with CLIF bars. Here’s what the email from GOOD Magazine said:

Dear Ashley and BICAS:

GOOD and CLIF Bar are pleased to inform you that the story submission “Stolen Bike, Answers to Maddie” is a prize winner in our BIke Story & Photo Contest!

A donation will be made to BICAS in Ashley’s name in the amount of $2,500. Can you please send us information for the preferred way to submit the donation? We will need a tax ID and mailing address in order to process the donation.

Ashley, please send us your preferred mailing address to receive your prize: a bike messenger filled with CLIF Bars.

We will be publicly announcing all the winners of our contest on 9/28 Wednesday morning but wanted to let you know beforehand that you are one of our three winners. Congratulations and we hope to hear more about the great programs and events BICAS will be able to do with this prize money.

Thanks for participating and congratulations again!

Here is the photo and story by Donald that helped win $2,500 for BICAS:

Here’s is what the photo looks like and what Donaldson wrote:

Submitted by: Ashley Donald / Bike Charity: Bike Inter-Community Art and Salvage

In 2009, I was living out of my car and sleeping on friends’ couches. In May, I had an epileptic seizure while driving, totaling my car and leaving me unable to drive. With the money I received from my destroyed car I was able to buy Maddie: my beautiful, obnoxiously bright yellow Schwinn Madison. She gave me a sense of optimism—and freedom—despite my stream of bad luck.

In August, I accompanied a friend while she house-sat for a week. One afternoon, I heard the side gate slam open, but simply thought the wind had caught it. Upon investigation, I witnessed Maddie coming out of the garage in the hands of a stranger. My heart sank and I reacted as any frantic mother would: I ran after her. It was too late. Maddie was gone.

With over 600 annual stolen bike reports, the police were of little help, and I turned to my local biking community for assistance. I posted the theft on Craigslist, figuring Maddie would likely be resold.

After a few weeks, she appeared online! My quick attempt to buy her back was futile, as she was sold within hours. Losing hope after a second Maddie miss, I posted again hoping to find the buyer. Weeks later, I was contacted by a man who realized he had purchased Maddie and wanted to return her to me. I am forever grateful for the generosity of this kind man for reuniting me with my transportation, my freedom, my Maddie.

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