Bucket 100 hopes to become part of yearly IU vs. Purdue rivalry

It costs $50,000 to sponsor a house through Habitat for Humanity in Monroe County. And to co-sponsor a house, it's still $25,000. \nThis year, IU's Habitat for Humanity hopes to raise enough money to co-sponsor a house, which the organization has never done before. \nIU Habitat for Humanity President Dave Doyle, a senior, said he hopes the inaugural Bucket 100 Bike Tour will help the organization achieve its lofty goal.\nThe group will host a call-out at 7 p.m. today in Jordan Hall, room 124, for interested bikers to learn more about the Bucket 100 Bike Tour. \nThe Bucket 100 is a joint venture with Purdue's Habitat for Humanity group, and the ride route will include both universities. At 10 a.m. Nov. 17, bikers will leave IU's Memorial Stadium and bike toward Ross-Ade Stadium at Purdue, arriving during the Oaken Bucket game Nov. 18.\nDoyle said this is not a race between the riders but rather a race between the two Habitat chapters to see who can raise the most money.\n"I would encourage people who are active riders and comfortable with the distance to participate," Doyle said. Purdue and IU are responsible for recruiting their own riders.\nThe registration fee is $40 per rider, and riders are required to fundraise a minimum of $150 to help build a home in each respective community, according to the Habitat Web site. \nDoyle said riders will go about 84 miles before stopping Friday and will continue another 38 miles to Purdue on Saturday. Doyle said there will be food, water and support along the path. Towns along the path, such as Paragon, Little Point and North Salem, will be notified, so bikers can stop to get drinks. Crawfordsville is the overnight rest stop between Friday and Saturday. \nBut right now, everything is still a work in progress, and IU Habitat for Humanity is focusing on recruiting riders, Doyle said. \nIU sophomore Emily Clarke, who is training for Little 500, is geared up and ready to ride for the Bucket 100.\n"It's great practice, and it's going toward a great cause," she said. \nClarke found out about the event from friends who are in Habitat for Humanity and became interested after attending the group's first call-out meeting.\nUntil November, Doyle hopes word of mouth and advertising will get the word to interested bikers and volunteers. More information is also available on IU Habitat's Web site, www.iuhabitat.org. \nSince the bike tour ends the day of the IU vs. Purdue football game, Doyle said the bikers will end in the parking lot at Ross-Ade Stadium with celebration and tailgating before the football game. \nDoyle hopes the Bucket 100 becomes a major fund-raiser Habitat can do every year.\n"We know it's our first year, so we're not going to make unattainable goals," he said. "Our reasonable goal is to raise enough to co-sponsor a house"