Ministerial group to make rest stop in Selma
Published 6:16 pm Tuesday, April 29, 2014
A group of bikers will pedal their way through Selma this Saturday as they cross the state to raise awareness about housing needs in the poorest parts of the state.
The fifth annual three-day Cycle of Service bicycle ride, which takes place Friday, May 2 through Sunday, May 4, is also raising money for Alabama Rural Ministry, a faith-based home repair organization based in Opelika.
This weekend’s event will take riders from east to west across Alabama, from the state’s border with Georgia to the Mississippi state line.
Riders will begin the second day in Tuskegee and stop for the night in Selma — staying at Memorial United Methodist Church — before continuing westward on Sunday, and ARM director Lisa Pierce said the money and awareness are much needed by the organization and the people they help.
“We already have 35 families signed up to receive, so the need is pretty great,” Pierce said. “With all these tornadoes and storms coming through this week, we’ll likely have even more need in our area.”
Pierce said the goal for this year’s ride is to raise $25,000, which would be put toward the purchase of construction materials the organization used in repairing homes for up to 30 families.
Registration for the ride $65 and riders have the option to gain sponsors to raise additional funds.
Even though time is running out before the riders start their journey, she still hopes more people can sign up.
“It grows a little bit each year,” Pierce said. “Last year we had six participants and this year we already have 11 signed up.”
Anyone interested in signing up for the event or donating to ARM can do so at cycleofservice.arm-al.org.