This year marks the 21-year anniversary of Tour de Whidbey. Since 2022, the Whidbey community has come together around a unified mission to host this bicycle ride fundraiser – known as one of the most beautiful rides in the Pacific Northwest.
More than 6,000 cyclists and their families visited Whidbey from 23 states, Canada and 87 towns in Washington to enjoy some of the most scenic vistas in the Pacific Northwest and to raise money for health care needs on the island. Throughout the 21 years, proceeds raised by Tour de Whidbey went directly to support the highest priority needs of surgical and diagnostic equipment for WhidbeyHealth.
Hosted by the WhidbeyHealth Foundation, this community fundraiser promotes tourism and economic vitality on our rural and remote island. Participants stay in our local hotels, eat in our local restaurants, shop at Whidbey’s boutique shops and enjoy a mini-vacation. Additionally, it promotes health by encouraging the fun aspects of physical fitness.
“Tour de Whidbey breaks diversity barriers, promotes an inclusive culture and brings the community from North, Central and South Whidbey together around a unified mission. In 2022, our youngest participant was 1 year old and our oldest rider was 81 years old,” stated Samar Arny, executive director of the WhidbeyHealth Foundation. “The diversity and inclusion of all ages and backgrounds in one event promoting health, outdoors and fun times are remarkable attributes of this fundraiser.”
Hundreds of volunteers sign up annually from all over the island in the friend-raiser to coordinate logistics across the six bike routes or to help at the ten fully stocked break stations.
There are several ways to participate and contribute with us. Start by registering your family or friends to ride. Sign up to volunteer or donate towards the cause and the sustainability of this initiative. For more information, contact Samar Arny (ArnySa@whidbeyhealth.org) or Heather Tenore (TenorH@whidbeyhealth.org).
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our local partners: Island Thrift, Heritage Bank, Physicians of WhidbeyHealth, Corebridge, Right Systems, Skagit Radiology, Puget Sound Energy, Anesthesia Associates NW, Life Flight Network, Whidbey and Camano Island Tourism, Whidbey Telecom, Regency Whidbey, the Town of Coupeville and the City of Oak Harbor.
The WhidbeyHealth Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1981 to improve patient outcomes and their experience at WhidbeyHealth. For 42 years, the foundation has served as an advocate to improving the health and well-being of the community and as a financial resource to WhidbeyHealth by leveraging philanthropy. A total of 97% of each dollar donated is used to purchase equipment, improve facilities and enhance training for the medical team and employees. The mission of the WhidbeyHealth Foundation is to make sure WhidbeyHealth has the resources needed to provide patient-centered quality healthcare for Whidbey residents and visitors.
For more than 50 years, WhidbeyHealth has believed that everyone on Whidbey Island deserves local access to high-quality health care. WhidbeyHealth provides progressive, patient centric health care, a safety net when emergencies happen and peace of mind knowing our team is standing by 24/7 to respond to the needs of Whidbey Island residents and visitors. WhidbeyHealth is comprised of the Medical Center in Coupeville and ten outpatient clinics across Whidbey Island.
WhidbeyHealth Wire is a regular column from the island’s public hospital district.
