PEAKS to Conga will not return

The People Everywhere Are Kind and Sharing (PEAKS) organization has announced that it will not be organizing its PEAKS to Conga fundraiser in 2025, calling it quits after raising more than $450,000 over a 14-year period.

Held every June, the event featured a fully-supported, 68-mile bike ride from Cody to Shell, followed by a “Shellebration” with live music performances, auctions and other fundraising activities typically lasting into the evening.

In a press release announcing the decision, PEAKS reported that it has given way more than $30,000 annually to cancer patients across the Big Horn Basin, helping them cover non-medical expenses like groceries, gas and lodging to and from medical appointments.

“Through all these years, Laurie Stoelk and the planning committee have given their all to make PEAKS to Conga a success,” read the statement. “We do this because each of us has been or will be affected by this life-changing disease in one form or another. But now it is time to change gears and we’re looking for your help once again.”

“Unfortunately, Laurie and the committee are no longer able to coordinate this annual event. We hope someone or another organization may be interested in grabbing the handlebars and steering (PEAKS to Conga) into the future. However, we are not planning a 2025 ride. 

“This is a very difficult decision to make but we are hopeful that the spirit of PEAKS will carry on in other forms.”

According to the release, the organization has enough funds its account to continue providing financial assistance to local cancer patients for at least another couple of years. There may also be future opportunities to grow this fund and continue this important work.

PEAKS is planning a “switching gears celebration” for Friday, March 14, 6 to 8 p.m., at The Colonel Lounge, 1328 Beck Ave., in Cody. In addition to celebrating the past 14 years, the organization wants to share its ideas for the future and “maybe even find someone to keep PEAKS to Conga pedaling along.”

Stoelk said the ideal arrangement would be for an entity within the Big Horn Basin to take on the entire project, including grant management, 501c3 and liability.

“With the merging of Intermountain Health with St Vincent Healthcare they may stop taking on third party, out-of-state events,” Stoelk said. “There hasn’t been a final decision made on that yet, but it is another reason why we are making changes ahead of the game because we would hate to be in the midst of planning an event and lose our foundation.”

She said she’s proud of what everyone associated with PEAKS to Conga accomplished over the past 14 years.

“The Shellebration is one of a kind with so many riders, family and friends showing up for the fun while supporting a good cause,” she said. “We certainly had a lot of sponsorships and donors who were well represented.”