Five years ago, the Jefferson County Bar Association came up with an idea to raise funds for its Pro Bono Program by sponsoring a bicycle ride. Now the Spindletop Spin has grown into a cycling event attended by hundreds of riders and raising tens of thousands of dollars each year.
Registration has begun for the 2010 Spindletop Spin, which will be held June 5. As in previous years, the fundraiser is in memory of Jefferson County Family Court Judge Tom Mulvaney.
This year's event has more routes to choose from than ever before. A family ride will cover only 16 miles, with an entry fee of $25 for the first parent and children under 18 years old plus $15 for second parent.
For a $30 individual fee,other cyclists can choose from the 30 or 52 mile routes, with a 100 mile route now available for the most experienced riders. All routes begin at the Crockett Street Entertainment District in downtown Beaumont and starting times for the various routes will be staggered.
The routes will be marked with signs and color coded arrows along the road, and all routes are supported with police, motorcycles and ride marshals. Rest stops will be supplied with fruit, drinks and snacks; SAG wagons will be available for the weary.
Lunch will be provided 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event benefits the Jefferson County Bar Association Pro Bono Foundation, which provides free or low-cost legal services to indigent and low-income residents.
Local attorneys donate their time to the program, but the service still incurs costs for reviewing applications, verifying eligibility, assigning cases, completing reports required by various federal and state agencies, service fees and other expenses.
Last years Spindletop Spin raised more than $30,000.
The event does more than raise money for the JCBA Pro Bono Program, it is also a time to remember a local judge whose impact on families is still felt in Jefferson County.
The Spindletop Spin is in memory of Judge Tom Mulvaney, who died in 2005. Mulvaney served as a family court judge in Jefferson County from 1999 to 2005, and served on the board of the Pro Bono Program for many years.
One of Mulvaney's greatest joys was serving as the presiding judge for the National Adoption Day ceremonies that are held annually.
Many sponsors are making the 2010 Spindletop Spin possible, including Crockett Street, Beaumont Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Spindletop Steakhouse, Mehaffy Weber Attorneys, Orgain Bell & Tucker LLP, Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard LLP, Germer & Gertz, Walden Reynard PLLC, Raw Revolution, Market Basket, GU and Rhodes Design.
Also Total, Road ID, Becker Printing, Benckenstein & Oxford LLP, Jesse Branick, Calvert Eaves Clarke & Stelly LLP, Pat Chamblin, Ed Hughes Enterprises, Jonathan Juhon PC, Monk Law Firm, Nell McCallum & Associates Inc., Tracy Richardson, Anna & Paul Scheurich and Stratos Legal.
In addition, the Beaumont Police Department, Jefferson County, area Amateur Radio Clubs and the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association have also provided services to the event.
Early registration can be completed online at www.spindletopspin.com. Route maps are also avaiable on the Web site.
On site registration will be held 3-7 p.m. June 4 on Crockett Street. Riders can also complete early check-in at that time.
Additional information is available from the JCBA Pro Bono Program, 1001 Pearl St., Room 202, Beaumont, 409-839-2332.