Bicyclists pumped up the Whidbey General Hospital Foundation while enjoying a sunny day on the roads of Whidbey Island Saturday.

The parking area at the Greenbank Farm was already filled with vehicles – bike racks attached – at 7:30 Saturday morning as Tour de Whidbey participants got an early start on their challenge.

Some chose the 25-mile ride, others the 50-mile test, and still others the 100-mile ultimate challenge which would require them to pedal north to Ault Field Road and back south to Maxwelton Road, and then back to the Greenbank Farm before they filled their quota of miles.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, Hospital CEO Scott Rhine was churning out pancakes to stoke the riders with calories before they departed, while other volunteers busily registered latecomers, answered numerous queries from strangers to the area, and handed out goodie bags to keep the riders energized during their time on the roads of Whidbey.

Participants wore T-shirts created by Claire Moore of Claire’s Graphics, whose contribution of shirts, logo and other art work was estimated at $5,000 by event director Carol Kerley. “It’s the most incredible thing,” Kerley said of the donation.

The number of event sponsors grew sharply this year, which helped the Hospital Foundation double its earnings. In addition, ridership was up dramatically, with many registering the day of the race.

“There are 75 new entries today,” Kerley said, and it was still early. “And we’ve got 27 sponsors, up from five last year.”

Out in the parking lot, riders were getting their bikes ready for the long journey. Lise Neer and husband Joseph arrived from Denver, Colo., for the Tour de Whidbey. “We were looking for a ride and found it on the Internet,” Lise said as Joseph fixed a tire on her bike. “I need a new tube to make sure it goes,” she said.

A large contingent of riders turned out from the Whidbey Island Waldorf School, calling themselves Team Waldorf, under the leadership of teacher Jay Freundlich. For Tommi Morgan and Fiona Weeks, it was their first entry into an official bicycling event. They chose to start with 25 miles. “We figure we’ll be back for lunch,” Morgan said.

Trish Rose, Whidbey General Hospital spokesperson, said the day’s final official rider trickled in just at the 6 p.m. closing time.

Alex Louden, Whidbey General Hospital Foundation executive director, said 357 people participated in this year’s Tour de Whidbey, which was produced by a host of volunteers under the leadership of volunteer chairperson Carol Kerley and co-chair Jan Tupper. Riders came from as far away as Florida, Colorado, British Columbia and Oregon, and there were a large number of military riders from NAS Whidbey and elsewhere.

Not only was it a record number of participants in the tour’s four-year history, the old money record was obliterated. “Close to $30,000,” Louden said, describing the proceeds. “Double last year.”

The drawing for the $1,600 bike donated by Bicycles Northwest was won by Oak Harbor resident Jason Crowley.

The Foundation is raising money to purchase three ventilators for the hospital at $29,000 each, so they raised enough in one day to purchase one ventilator. “It was a little more than one day of work though,” Louden noted. Plans are already being made for the fifth annual Tour de Whidbey next year.