by Dennis Dalman
On average, Gene Boysen of St. Joseph rides his trusty “Trek” bicycle about 3,000 miles every year, and 500 kilometers of that distance he will peddle in July when he participates in the Build.Bike.Home event in and near LaCrosse, Wis.
Every year, that event raises funds and awareness for Habitat for Humanity. Every dollar raised by Boysen will go to the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for people desperately in need of an affordable home in which to live.
This will be Boysen’s seventh year participating in Build.Bike.Home.
From July 12 to July 16, Boysen and his fellow cyclists will ride each of those days on different routes in and around the scenic LaCrosse area. During the nights and when not biking, the participants will stay in a LaCrosse high school. The total of the various five days of bike rides will be 500 kilometers.
Dr. Boysen is the owner of Boysen Animal Hospital, which he founded in St. Joseph about 30 years ago and which now is located in Waite Park.
The original “Habitat 500” bicycling fundraiser started 30 years ago and was coordinated by Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota. Throughout the years, it raised more than $7 million to build affordable homes.
The relatively new Bike.Build.Home 500 Committee includes past riders and volunteers who are keeping alive the spirit and purpose of the original Habitat 500. Bike.Build.Home is now coordinated by long-time dedicated Habitat riders. It’s the same cause, just a different name.
“I have found this event to be very rewarding,” said Boysen in an interview with the Newsleaders. “Being part of something bigger than myself and supporting a great cause keeps me coming back each year. All the funds raised from my efforts are going to Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. They are active and making a difference in our community.”
One example of making a difference, Boysen noted, is the “Genesis House” in St. Joseph. The house was built in 1926 and purchased by the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict in 1950. It was used for years for some of the first women lay staff at the College of St. Benedict, as residence for chaplains and as housing for some of the Benedictine Sisters. They donated the house to Habitat for Humanity in 2020, and dozens of volunteers refurbished/remodeled the place and called it Genesis House, an affordable home for a family in need.
Donations for the Bike.Build.Home fundraiser will be accepted through September. To donate so that funds go to Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, go to its website at cmhfh.org/make-a-gift. Click on the “Donate” space, then click the pull-down menu arrow in the box that says “My donation is for.” In the pull-down menu, click on Gene’s Bike.Build.Home 500 Ride” and proceed from there.
Gene Boysen of St. Joseph will soon take part in the Bike.Build.Home Habitat 500-kilometer fundraiser in and near LaCrosse, Wis. Donations he raises will all be given to Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes for people.
