Local man overcomes obstacles, raises thousands of dollars

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids resident Tyler Smothers probably raised well over $6,000 for The Arc of East Central Iowa Sunday morning with his second annual Tour de Flood fundraiser.

Smothers, 25, born with a rare form of spina bifida, rode his adaptive trike three laps around Cedar Lake, collecting pledges to help the agency of which he and his family are members. The Arc supports people with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Smothers' mother Cindy Smothers said Tyler, accompanied by friends and supporters, completed three laps around the lake, a total of 5.25 miles, in about 90 minutes. She said Tour de Flood II had $5,850 in pledges, not counting those made online, by the time the event began.

Last year's fundraiser, mounted to help the Arc repair its flood-damaged office at 680 Second St. SE, raised more than $18,000.

For more information or to make a late pledge, visit the Arc's Web site, www.arceci.org.