With the Tour de France underway, a group of several northwest Ohioans have embarked on a cycling tour of their own for a good cause.

The Rotary District 6600 Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad (MESA) Bike Tour will for the first time bring riders to Fostoria today as members hope to bring awareness to the need for medical equipment in third-world countries.

"This will be our first time to visit Fostoria and we look forward to their friendly hospitality," said Ed Stewart, tour coordinator, an a statement.

At each stop, riders attempt to shed light on their mission and solicit donations toward the cause. The MESA 2010 Bike Tour donation goal is $50,000, set significantly lower than last year's goal of $62,000.

"The tour is a major fundraiser for them. In the first five years, it raised $220,000," said outgoing Fostoria Rotary president Ken Swint, who has coordinated the tour's local stay.

Among the items the organization purchases for these foreign countries are hospital beds, surgical instruments and other necessary equipment.

"Sometimes they just ship the equipment to other Rotary clubs in those areas, and that area distributes it where its needed, and sometimes Rotary members personally deliver the equipment," Swint explained.

This year's tour is comprised of approximately 40 riders from the northwest Ohio region and began Saturday in Toledo.

The tour has since rode on to Port Clinton, then on to Elyria and Norwalk. Several bike trails are planned to be taken on the route between Norwalk and Fostoria to "dodge the probable westerly headwinds that typify that area," according to the trip itinerary on the MESA official website.

From Fostoria the riders will travel on to Defiance on Wednesday and then on to Sylvania where they will be shuttled back to their cars in Toledo on Thursday.

In the case of injuries, broken down bicycles and inclement weather, a vehicle follows the tour and can provide shelter and medical attention to riders.

While many of the riders have registered for the entirety of the trip, they are not required to complete every day of the tour and can sign up for specific days and destinations. Not all of the riders are seasoned cyclists, as many ride for recreational purposes.

The tour travels by day and spends the night at hotels in the cities where they arrive by nightfall. The pace of riders will determine their arrival time in Fostoria and Swint said they more than likely will arrive in intervals instead of in a pack.

Riders should trickle in throughout the day and plan to convene at the Best Western Fostoria Inn & Suites on North Countyline Street, where they will stay overnight. Fostoria Community Hospital will host a dinner for the riders at 6 p.m. in its conference room, as well as a breakfast at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Members are volunteers who work "locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace," according to their official website.

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Planning will begin soon for next year’s tour. If you want your club to be included on the route, please contact Ed Stewart at emsbiker514@gmail.com.

To learn more about MESA go to:www.rotarymesa.org

Read about MESA Ride - Day 5: Fostoria to Defiance

Read about MESA Ride - Day 4: Norwalk to Fostoria

Read about MESA Ride - Day 3: Elyira to Norwalk

Read about MESA Ride - Day 2: Port Clinton to Elyria

Article from the Toledo Blade - Day 1 of ride

Article from the Freemont Newspaper - Day 4 of ride

Article from McComb Newspaper - Day 5 of ride