Forty men on bicycles rode through Selma on their way to Rosemary Beach, Florida earlier this week.

The men were participants of the 9^th Annual WINGS Ride 2 Rosemary.

The charitable cycling event promotes cancer awareness, encourages a healthy lifestyle and raises funds for the WINGS Supportive Care Division within the University of Tennessee West Institute.

According to WINGS Ride 2 Rosemary Co-founder Chuck Bolton, the ride has raised over $1 million this year.

The 525-mile ride begins in Memphis. It takes the riders five days to reach Rosemary Beach – each of the riders averages a little over 100 miles each day.

Along the way, the riders make stops in Tupelo, Mississippi, Tuscaloosa, Selma and Andalusia before being greeted by their supporters at Rosemary Beach.

According Bolton, the annual trek began with a couple of friends supporting him through a tough time.

“I’d been going through a really tough time in my life,” said Bolton. “Two of my friends came to see me and asked, ‘What are you going to do when this is over?’ I have a home in Rosemary, so I said ‘I’m going to get on my bike and ride all the way to Rosemary. I want to taste some freedom.’ Without hesitation, they said ‘we’re in.’”

The ride grew from a few close friends practicing brotherly love and evolved into the 40-man excursion it is now, all while raising funds to combat cancer.

“We share an adventure,” said Bolton. “This is hard.”

Bolton said the 525-mile journey is a small task compared to challenges that cancer patients face.

“You look at all of that chemo that they go through and this is nothing,” he said.

All of the men in the group have had cancer touch their lives in some way.

“Quite a few of the men here have had loved ones die in the last nine years,” said Bolton. “It allows a lot of these men to struggle together. We push each other and help one another get through it.”

Chris Savage, participating in the ride for the second year in a row, was drawn to the ride for the sense of brotherhood.

“It’s about this band of brothers,” said Savage. “It’s just the struggle together as we ride 100 miles a day. Supporting each other and encouraging each other and trying to do something hard together brings out the best and worst moments in us and we’re there for each other.”

Craig Demoss, also a second year rider, said the journey was a great way to engage in something he’s passionate about while helping others.

“There’s very few opportunities you have where you get to do something you’re passionate about [cycling] and be able to give back to the community,” Demoss said.