Mountain Bike Specialists of Durango to Host Online Charity Auction in Support of Local Family

Durango’s premier bike retailer creates online charity auction and donates $3,500 mountain bike for bids in support of victims from February house explosion

Durango, CO – (April 5, 2012) Mountain Bike Specialists (MBS), Durango’s premier bike shop and top cycling retailer for over 40-years, will use its business for good this month in support of the Kelley family.

In response to the devastating propane explosion that leveled the Kelley family’s home in February, MBS will host an online charity auction to help raise funds for the family’s medical bills and other expenses. The Kelley’s are longtime friends and supporters of the entire crew at MBS.

In addition to hosting the online charity auction web page, MBS will also donate a 2012 Specialized Epic Comp 29 mountain bike, custom outfitted with upgrades ranging from carbon seat posts and handlebars to a fully tubeless tire system, valued at $3,500.

The donation is a gift from the entire staff of MBS, who together pooled their resources from the company’s annual bonus to purchase the bike for the charity auction.

All proceeds from the charity auction will be directly deposited into a benefit account set up to help the Kelley family as they continue to recover from their injuries, including the beloved family dog, Rocko and Tippi the cat. Firefighters estimated more than $850,000 in damage to the family’s home and two vehicles alone.

“Durango is truly a unique place,” said Ed Zink, owner of MBS and longtime friend of the Kelley family.

It’s amazing to see our staff and the community come together in support of our friends, and we’re happy to use our business to lend a helping hand during this difficult time. We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off mountain bike season, and we’re hopeful the Epic Comp 29er will motivate folks to bid on a brand new bike in support of a great cause,” he added.

The auction will take place online from April 5th – April 30th. Bidding will start at $3,500 and anyone with Internet access is invited to participate and support the cause. MBS hopes to raise at least $5,000 for the Kelley family through the charity bike auction.

Please visit http://www.mountainbikespecialists.com/auction to bid on the mountain bike. Donations are also being accepted at www.kelleyfamilydurango.com to help the family as they recover from their injuries and begin rebuilding their lives.

About Mountain Bike Specialists
With over 40-years leading the Durango cycling community, Mountain Bike Specialists is the premier bike shop in the Four Corners area. In addition to offering outstanding product lines such as Specialized, Santa Cruz, and Niner, MBS has created a historical in-house cycling museum to celebrate Durango as the home and inspiration to many of the greatest cyclists of all time. Owner Ed Zink is a Durango native and a major contributor to the southwest Colorado cycling scene, with over 43 years spent at the heart of Durango’s cycling community. He has coordinated dozens of races, including the World Championships in 1990, the annual Iron Horse Bicycle Classic (now in its 41st year,) and several NORBA Nationals. Please visit http://mountainbikespecialists.com for more info.