By Lynn SHER

The 10^th anniversary of the running and cycling racing event “Finish the Ride” takes place this Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 at the Crystal Springs Picnic Area, Griffith Park, 4659 Crystal Springs Drive. This is the first year the event will span two days and upwards of 2,000 participants are expected. Damian Kevitt, founder of the event, said, “It will be the best ever!”

For the first time, the running and cycling races will be on different days and there are multiple races on each day. For example, on the first day there is a 1K kid and puppy run/walk, a 5K and 10K run and a half marathon. For cyclists, Kevitt said there is a 15-mile “family-friendly, fun, flat and easy” race, and 20-, 35- and 50-mile races and a 100K race. The routes will be scenic, running through Griffith Park, and the races will finish with a celebratory expo.

Kevitt was inspired to start “Finish the Ride” in 2014 after experiencing a horrific accident while riding his bike in Griffith Park. He was hit and then pinned beneath a car, dragged from the streets of Griffith Park to the 5 Freeway until he finally came loose and was left in oncoming traffic. Among his injuries was his left leg being ripped off.

“[I] lost 20 pounds of flesh in two minutes,” he said.

The accident left him with 20 broken bones, 10 broken ribs and two shattered shoulders. No one was ever held accountable for this; it was a hit-and-run. His story inspired the event’s name “Finish The Ride.”

“It was born out of my tragedy, my desire to just finish the ride and to use it to help save others’ lives,” he said.

“Finish the Ride” was never intended to be more than a one-time event. Kevitt said from the beginning, “It’s not just a ride, it’s a movement” because it’s “about saving lives for everyone, across all of Los Angeles.”

But he didn’t realize how much of a movement it was going to become.

“[I thought I’d] go back to my quiet little life,” he said.

But the race was so successful that it became an annual event, eventually spawning the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE).

This year’s event will likely be even bigger than anticipated and volunteers are desperately needed. Volunteers are needed both days, early in the morning for things like registration and check-in and throughout the day for things like directing the participants along the routes and breaking down things on Sunday. “Finish the Ride” is especially short on volunteers to help with the water stations on Saturday. Those shifts are between 6 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

There are various incentives for volunteering. All volunteers are entitled to a swag bag and those who volunteer on Saturday can receive free entry to a Sunday race. Lunch is included for volunteers working up to noon and for those who stay to break down the event on Sunday dinner is provided. Those who would like to volunteer can reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Rene Cruz at Rene@StreetsAreForEveryone.org or call (347) 248-3913.

Admission fees vary between $10 and $100 depending on the race. The money collected from “Finish the Ride” is used by Streets Are For Everyone to continue its work, advocating for safer streets and supporting victims of traffic violence. Anyone who doesn’t want to participate in the event but would like to donate to the cause can do so at https://www.streetsareforeveryone.org/donate-or-sponsor. Those who would like to register for the race can go online to Cyclist Registration (https://streetsareforeveryone.enmotive.com/events/register/finish-the-ride-and-finish-the-run-griffith-park_1) or Runner Registration (https://streetsareforeveryone.enmotive.com/events/register/finish-the-ride-and-finish-the-run-halloween_1). People can also register in person on the day of the event.