May is Bike Everywhere Month, celebrated across the Puget Sound area, and local company Paracle Advisors is using that to support the Mercer Island community.

During Bike Month, all types of riders, from novice to veteran, use their bikes to get to work and do errands. Some even join teams and track their miles as part of the Bike Everywhere Challenge.

For every mile Paracle employees ride their bikes in May, the personal financial management company will donate a dollar – up to $5,000 – to Mercer Island Youth and Family Services.

“Paracle comes from a Greek word meaning ‘called alongside to help,’” said Paracle’s Managing Director Josh Harris. “By supporting [MIYFS], we’re coming alongside and making a positive impact on our community.”

MIYFS provides help to community members who are facing challenges, such as children with mental health issues, the death or loss of a loved one, unemployment, divorce and other issues that come with raising a family or having aging parents.

This is the sixth straight year Paracle is taking part in Bike to Work Month. Last year, the company combined to ride more than 4,432 miles in May, achieving their goal of 4,000 miles.

This year, Paracle is upping the goal to 5,000 miles. If the company reaches its goal, it will help provide low-income families with holiday meals, a public service announcement aimed at preventing underage drinking, a community-based mental health counselor with one-month salary, and many other services that help the community. Learn more at http://paracle.com.

Staff at the city of Mercer Island are also launching a team, the Mercer-naries.

The most popular event is on May 19, when many thousands of cyclists participate in Bike Everywhere Day (aka “Bike to Work Day”). Mercer Island cyclists will see thousands of fellow commuters across the region, and there will be a support booth at each end of the I-90 floating bridge. Another event is Bike to School Day on May 10.

The city encourages residents to try out cycling as a means of commuting, reducing traffic and shrinking their carbon footprint. See www.mercergov.org for more.