SAFE Celebrates Another Festive, Spooky Finish the Ride in Santa Clarita!
Nearly 900 walkers, runners, cyclists, supporters and dogs gathered Sunday for the seventh annual Finish the Ride and Finish the Run, starting and finishing at West Creek Park in Santa Clarita. The Halloween theme and the creative costumes belied a serious shared message from everyone in attendance: we must make the streets of Southern California — and the country, and the world — safe for everyone.
“While it was an atmosphere of celebration and joy, there’s also that undercurrent of the purpose that made it really special,” said Kylea-Rose Kevitt, SAFE program manager, who managed the start and finish line for the events. “The amount of cyclists and runners and their enthusiasm made it feel electric, and the joy they brought to the event was palpable.”
“It was great to see so many people who brought an awareness about the need for safer roads in our cities,” said Damian Kevitt, SAFE Founder and Executive Director, who started Finish the Ride after losing his leg in an auto collision while bicycling in Griffith Park. "That was the throughline of the event—the need for safer roads and the importance of supporting them, along with something we've always said from the start: while it began with me finishing the ride, it’s now about you finishing the ride and run—and who you’re finishing for."
Participants traveled from far and wide to join the call to action; one couple traveled from England and made Finish the Ride part of their American vacation — all to support their sons, who’d been injured in an auto collision in Los Angeles in 2021.
Participants enjoyed a beautiful day of activities and activism, kicked off by the Metric Century Ride at 7 a.m., followed by the opening ceremony and the rest of the events: 12-Mile Fun Ride/Roll, 25 Mile Tour de River Ride, 5K and 10K Run/Walk and 1K Kids and Puppy Runs.
The route featured three pit stops — one hosted by Valencia BMW, one by SAFE, and a pizza party for the Metric Century ride, hosted by New Acton Market — that gave participants a chance to take a break and connect with one and other.
Thank you to everyone who participated, and to all the sponsors and supporters who made this event possible—especially our Title Sponsor, Cohen Law Partners, and our Top Sponsors: Fleet Feet, Valencia BMW, and Incycle.
For a full list of partners, supporters, sponsors and for more information on Finish the Ride and Finish the Run Santa Clarita, check out this page!