Tour to benefit persons with disabilities

Sussex County — The Department for Persons with Disabilities will hold its 8th Annual "Abilities" Bike Tour and Walk-A-Thon, as well as its third "Thunder For The Disabled" motorcycle run on Saturday, Oct. 1. A rain date is possible on Sunday, Oct. 2. The bicycle tour will consist of biking either 50, 27, 20 or 12 miles through Jefferson Township and Lake Hopatcong. The walking tour will also pass through Jefferson Township. There will be a barbecue afterwards, along with surprise attractions for all participants. The registration fee is $45 for individuals, or $100 per family, to either be donated by the participant or raised by pledges received. "Thunder For The Disabled," a 60-minute motorcycle run through Sussex County, will begin at the Chatterbox Drive-in at Ross' Corner at the junction of Routes 15 and 206 in Augusta, and end in Oak Ridge. A $30 minimum donation is required to ride. All proceeds will benefit the department's services to individuals with disabilities. For more information, call Roy De Franco at 973-697-1230 or email info@dpd.org. The Department for Persons with Disabilities is a Catholic Charities Agency of the Diocese of Paterson, which provides care to adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, and offers services without regard to religious affiliation. The department operates group homes and apartments, and vocational, recreational and training programs throughout Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties, with facilities located in Butler, Clifton, Lake Hopatcong, Oak Ridge, Parsippany, Pompton Lakes, Sparta, Wayne and West Milford.