As featured in Angelus News, September 2026
For 18 years, Bill Larson has turned his love of cycling into a lifeline for local families. The 73-year-old parishioner at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church in Westlake Village has raised nearly $250,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County through his annual bike ride fundraiser.. The rides are part of the parish’s Habitat to the Max partnership, which began more than 20 years ago. Counting earlier rides for leukemia, arthritis and lymphoma causes, his charitable total tops half a million dollars.
Larson started riding for Habitat when his wife, Joan, suggested he pair his favorite hobby with the parish partnership. Since then, he has taken on routes near and far, from the Three Harbors Tour out of Ventura to the Tour of Tucson and the Mammoth Mountain Century, plus a six-day trek from San Francisco to Santa Monica. He aims for a new destination each year, and this year’s ride took him to the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest.
The miles have not always come easy. Larson has ridden through joint replacements, a broken shoulder blade from a fall, tough climbs and punishing headwinds. When organized rides paused during COVID, he rode solo with Joan as his support crew. What keeps him going is the families Habitat serves, especially through home repair. He sees it as a vital way to help older homeowners who could not fix their situations on their own.
With his Habitat total at about $248,000, Larson is planning one more ride to reach his $250,000 goal. Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County CEO Darcy Taylor describes him as a humble servant whose rides grow out of his faith rather than any wish for recognition. After nearly two decades in the saddle, Taylor adds, “He’s earned the right to rest a little bit.”
Help Bill cross the finish line: weblink.donorperfect.com/billsbikeride
Read the full story from Angelus News: https://angelusnews.com/local/la-catholics/bike-fundraiser-bill-larson/