Family and friends of Stephen Serenelli have joined forced to provide a fitting and lasting memorial to him.

Stephen as an avid runner and cyclist who competed in marathons and triathlons around the world.

A fundraising effort aims to bring in enough money to sponsor one kilometre of the Rotary Trail and a bench to be located on that portion. Both the trail portion and the bench will be named in Stephen's honour.

It's just the best possible thing that could be done in his name," said his wife Eileen.

The Rotary Trail will be about 23 kilometres in length around the city's perimeter, including portions along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River and in Little Red River Park.

"Stephen loved to go for a run on that riverbank." sasid Eileen.

Shortly before he died, Eileen had finished turning an old bicycle into a garden fixture.

She painted the bike, stood it in their garden using rebar and put three baskets on it with a mixture of ivies, pansies and other plants.

"I did it as a monument to him," said Eileen.

She took a picture of it and showed it to Stephen on a Sunday and he died the following Tuesday. The picture of the flowered bicycle was taken in October just after the city received a wintry blast, so it was covered with snow.

Lynne Harley, and artist and friend of the Serenellis, painted a watercolour from the picture.

Stephen's sister-in-law, Peggy McConechy, whose father used to own the old bicycle, bought the painting at the recent Kyla art show.

A plan was then hatched to have a one-time only run of 200 prints, numbered and signed by Harley, made of the painting and sell them to raise money for the Rotary Trail.

Dwight Bergstrom of Leisure Sports is spearheading the print program, which hopes to raise more than $10,000 to donate to the trail.

Proceeds will be kept in the Stephen Serenlli Memorial Fund bank account until they are turned over to the Prince Albert Rotary Trail Committee.

The prints will be available in the first week of December, but orders are being taken now. They sell for $69.95 plus shipping and handling if applicable.

People interested in buying a print can place an order with Eileen at 922-1831 or blackwater @sasktel.net, or by contacting Bergstrom at 764-1443.

The prints will also be available at Amy's Restaurant, Doo Time hair salon and a booth to be set up in the Gateway Mall.