"Team Ohio" - Courtney Schumm and Elaine Mattern – have accepted the challenge once again to take on this year’s TREE Fund’s signature event, Tour des Trees. The six-day, 500+ mile cycling event raises money to support research on trees and their care, and promotes the importance of urban and community forests. It is the world’s largest fund-raising event to improve the care or urban trees through research and education. Since its inception, the Tour des Trees has raised over $3 million.

This year’s tour will begin on July 21st in Indianapolis and end with a finale celebration at the ISA Field Day event in St. Louis on July 26th. Over 50 riders from the US, Canada and England are registered to participate! Every mile the cyclists ride and every dollar raised by sponsors help further research and education in the field of tree care worldwide.

Courtney Schumm, The City of Aurora’s arborist, is returning for the fifth year to tackle this challenging event. Elaine Mattern, project manager for The Davey Tree Expert Company, will be returning for a sixth time!

Each rider is required to raise a minimum of $3,500 to be allowed to ride. Show your support of Courtney’s and Elaine’s efforts and make a donation today! The Ohio Chapter ISA is showing its support by matching your donations up to $1,500 total per rider for the two riders.

Remember your support helps ensure a better tomorrow for future generations.

To learn more about Tour des Trees, how Courtney and Elaine are fairing, and how you can support tree research through their rides, visit the Tour des Trees web site or make a donation to the team at the "Team Ohio" web page.

Best wishes to Courtney and Elaine on their upcoming rides!