BMX tracks raise more than $16,000 at Race for Life

MOSES LAKE — More than 100 riders hit the Larson BMX Track on Sunday for Moses Lake BMX’s Race for Life, part of a series of races across Eastern Washington raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  

“It was an awesome weekend,” Moses Lake BMX Track Operator Jeff Niehenke said. “Four-race series, everyone’s having a ton of fun out here. It’s just a good, fun atmosphere that’s bringing everyone together for a different cause other than just racing.” 

Races were held at Spokane BMX on Friday evening, Walla Walla BMX and Columbia Basin BMX on Saturday morning and afternoon, respectively, and Moses Lake BMX on Sunday morning. Each had more than 100 riders in attendance with 165 in Spokane, 108 in Walla Walla, 135 in Richland and 120 in Moses Lake. 

“It’s a great scene, everyone traveling to all these tracks and supporting each other and raising money,” Niehenke said.  

The average rider turnout at standard races is 97 in Spokane, 64 in Richland, 45 in Moses Lake and 15 in Walla Walla. Each race featured double points, which go toward a rider’s end-of-season standings, which in turn encourages more to attend a race. 

“That’s over double what our normal race is, so that’s a great turnout for us,” Niehenke said. “Hopefully we can keep building this series and getting more riders every year.” 

This is the second year of the Eastern Washington Race for Life Series. The lone major change between last year and this year was the order of when tracks hosted; Moses Lake hosted the first race last year, followed by Columbia Basin and Spokane before Walla Walla closed the weekend. 

“We took our lessons from last year and figured out how to sequence it between the tracks, but next year we’ve got the option of having lights – we could start the series on Friday night instead of finishing it on Sunday,” Niehenke said. 

Of course, there isn’t just competition on the track during the Race for Life Series. The tracks compete against one another to see who can raise the most money, with Moses Lake BMX taking the fundraising title this year.  

All in all, the four tracks combined to raise $16,279 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Moses Lake raised $5,576, Columbia Basin raised $5,320, Spokane raised $3,833 and Walla Walla raised $1,550. 

“Columbia Basin won it last year, and we’re bringing it back home this year where it belongs, which is just so fun and awesome,” Niehenke said. “Hats off to the riders, fundraisers and donors that contributed to this great cause.” 

At Columbia Basin, riders had the opportunity to dunk their track operators in a dunk tank, serving as an additional fundraiser — Niehenke said more ideas like that could come in future years. 

“We’ve got some other ideas we’re kicking around for some other fundraising ideas to have fun and bring the community together,” Niehenke said. 

    Riders in Moses Lake BMX celebrate with the trophy for raising the most money in the Eastern Washington Race for Life Series.
  

    The top fundraisers from Moses Lake BMX smile for a photo at Sunday’s race.