The Segway Riders Club of The Villages hosted a fundraising event Monday in the parking lot of SeaBreeze Recreation Center.
The event served to raise money for a new Segway for a local veteran. The effort is part of a partnership between the SRC and Chapter 150 of the Disabled American Veterans of the Villages.
Both 30 and 10-minute riders were taken through a practice course to prepare for their designated rides.
Thirty-minute riders, who paid $25 tickets beforehand from the Villages Box Office, rode their Segways around the neighborhood; 10-minute riders rode their Segways around the parking lot.
Ken Redding of the Village of Largo is a member of the Segway Rider Club and coordinated the event. The fundraiser occurs twice a year, March and November around Veterans Day.
Redding said that 64 people took part in the 30-minute Segway experiences, while many people had stopped by for a 10 minute ride. The goal is to raise money to cover the approximately $6,300 Segway for a local army veteran, with the help of Chapter 150 of the DAV.
The veteran will be awarded the new Segway by the end of this year.
“This has been great, there have been lots of support from Villagers. We are very grateful for their support,” said Redding.
Riding a Segway for the first time was participant Patti Gerhardt of Charlotte who expressed much excitement and anticipation for the experience. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” said Gerhardt adamantly.
Riders were taken through a basic course of starting, stopping, and turning for laps around the neighborhood and parking lot.
As everyone enjoyed learning how to ride a Segway and racing around the lot under the heat, Redding stated “It’s been a great day.”
