Registration is climbing for the fourth annual Six Pillars Century cycling fundraiser on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge, MD. Sponsored by Character Counts Mid-Shore, Inc., the cycling event will include four ride choices, including a 11-mile family ride, a 37-mile fun and fitness ride, a 56-mile Ironman Eagleman 70.3 Course, and a 100-mile Century Course.

The event will support Character Counts Mid-Shore, Inc., an agency which is best known for providing the Winners Walk Tall Program to over 7,900 students in the public schools in Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester counties free of charge. Over 275 trained volunteers, known as Character Coaches, visit classrooms each week to deliver lessons based on the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. For more than 10 years, character lessons have had a positive impact on the behavior of youth in the schools on the Mid Shore.

The Six Pillars Century check-in begins at 6 a.m. at Great Marsh Park in historic Cambridge, MD. A “show and go” start will be held between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. The family ride will begin at 10 a.m. The event will be held rain or shine. The cost of registration is $65 per person through April 27, 2012; and $75 per person through May 4, 2012 at 12 noon. Registration for the family ride is $40 per family, with a maximum of two adults and two children, and $10 for students. In Park registration (cash and check only) will be held on Friday, May 4 from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, May 5 starting at 6 a.m. for $85 per person. A $3 registration fee for each registration will be charged for both online and in Park registrations. To register, visit active.com. For information on course maps and ride rules, visit www.6pillarscentury.org. Each rider registered will receive a specially designed event t-shirt on the day of the event. Space is limited. For further information, call 410-819-0386 or e-mail sixpillarscentury@gmail.com.

In photo: Nearly 1000 riders will participate in this year’s Six Pillar Century cycling fundraiser on May 5, 2012 at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County. Pictured are riders waiting to start last year’s race at Great Marsh Park in historic Cambridge, MD.