There are many community groups and volunteers that help make the annual Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay a successful event.

In turn, the Bike Relay pumps about $13,000 into the coffers of groups from Whitehorse, Haines Junction and Haines, Alaska.

Over the last four years, the event organizers have had a policy of providing honorariums for checkpoint groups and for other groups that provide expertise for the race.

From set-up to the finish line, there are non-profit groups looking after all aspects of the event.

The Haines Junction Amateur Hockey Association recruits volunteers to set up the first four checkpoints. Mark Ritchie, from Haines Junction, organizes the group and has been a set-up volunteer for many years. The crew goes out on Thursday before the event along with a picnic lunch and they have a fun day setting up the checkpoints.

The first four checkpoints are run by groups from Whitehorse. This year, the Fair Aid Society will take on checkpoint four for the first time. The Lyrical Hounds Society, Suzuki Strings Association of the Yukon and Swim Yukon will be responsible for checking riders through on checkpoints one, two and three.

Volunteers from Haines will run checkpoints five and seven. These two checkpoints have been run by Tomi Scovill and Marion Carlson for years and they have had dedicated family and friends to help them out. Checkpoint six is run by Hospice of Haines and the Haines Venturer Scouts will take care of the finish line. The last three checkpoints and finish line have the longest time commitment with some volunteers on the job for eight hours or more.

Two groups that will help to ensure the safety of the 1,200 riders and their support vehicles are the St. John Ambulance, Fireweed Division from Whitehorse and the volunteers from the Yukon Amateur Radio Association.

The St. John Ambulance volunteers provided first aid at the 2009 event, giving the Yukon Zone Ski Patrollers a break after many years of support. St. John will take the First Aid responsibility again for 2010.

The extremely competent communications volunteers from YARA will be present at every checkpoint and at the finish line. They will ensure that race officials can communicate throughout the event and will relay emergency messages to EMS in Haines Junction or Haines.

Another group vital to the relay, is represented by equipment rather than volunteers. The SI stations and software that are used for timing are provided by the Yukon Orienteering Association. The SI system has been used for two years with great results.

All of these volunteer, not-for-profit groups receive honorariums of $750 to $1,500. This includes a portion to cover fuel expenses for the groups that have to travel to the remote checkpoints.

There is a lot of support provided by other groups that are not considered as volunteers. The RCMP Haines Junction detachment, Yukon Department of Highways, Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Highways, border guards and customs agents all play key roles in the road relay.

With only one week left for early registration in the Kluane Chilkat Bike Relay, teams are encouraged to sign up soon. The souvenir t-shirts are guaranteed only to groups that register before the early deadline. This year's shirts have a unique design and are made from a high tech material. They should be a popular item.

Submitted by Mike Gladish.