Maine Women's Fund CEO Sarah Ruef-Lindquist, of Camden, will join more than 300 cyclists as they tour the state by bicycle Sept. 12-19. The 2015 ride is the third annual organized by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, founded to promote the state as a bicycling destination and to use cycling as an economic development tool for local communities.

Ruef-Lindquist has completed long distance rides in Maine, including the American Lung Association's 180-mile Trek Across Maine five times and the Tour de Cure in Bar Harbor and Tour de Farms in Wiscasset for several years.

She's excited to experience riding in BikeMaine's 2015 host communities of Kittery, Old Orchard Beach, Bridgton, Bethel, Sweden, and Kennebunk. Sarah will in good company over the course of 350-plus miles with fellow riders, including as David Brancaccio, the host and senior editor of American Public Media's Marketplace Morning Report, and Mark Vogelzang, president and CEO of Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN). She looks forward to meeting with people within those communities the ride visits to share and learn more about issues women and girls face related to economic security. Follow her progress in-route by liking facebook.com/mainewomensfund.

Ruef-Lindquist joined the Fund as CEO in April 2012 with experience in fundraising, grantmaking and fiscal efficiency. Under her leadership the Fund has built a financial base to better address unmet need and sure the Fund's future: It has increased annual grantmaking by 23 percent and assets by over 100 percent while reducing almost entirely the annual operating deficit. The annual Leadership Luncheon is now a sell-out inspirational event attended by more than 700 and raising almost $150,000 to support the Fund's operation.