3 Days, 3 States, 300 Miles-Cyclists Cross Alabama to Raise Funds for Poverty Housing Alleviation
Thursday, April 14, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Pierce, (334) 501-4276 or cycle@arm-al.org
OPELIKA – Friday, April 15th, 2016 –
Just 7 days away! From Friday, April 22nd-April 24th, 13 cyclists will be crossing Alabama to raise awareness about the housing needs in some of the poorest areas of our country, while raising money for home repairs in Lee, Macon and Sumter counties. Their ride will cover 100 miles a day for three days and is a triple century challenge.
The Seventh Annual Cycle of Service benefits Alabama Rural Ministry (ARM), a home-repair ministry based in Opelika. Most of the households ARM serves are led by the elderly, disabled or single parents who live on limited or fixed incomes, said Lisa Pierce, ARM’s executive director. ARM also will host approximately 600 youth volunteers this summer providing home repair assistance to 25-30 families in the state.
"This year’s goal is to raise $25,000, which will be applied to the cost of purchasing the construction materials the organization uses in repairing homes for up to 30 families. These are families like Ms. Betty who lives alone, is a veteran, but only received $900/month in Social Security. When her roof began leaking, there was no way to save up the $3500 she needed to repair it," Pierce said. We are also renovating a community outreach center in Tuskegee, Alabama. Riders are currently gaining sponsors and individuals or groups can contribute to the cause now and throughout the three-day event online at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/cycleofservice
Bikers participating in the Cycle of Service will ride for five to eight hours a day. Profiles of the riders can be found at http://cycleofservice.arm-al.org The ride begins at 7:30 a.m. Friday at Livingston United Methodist Church in Livingston, Alabama, and will end Sunday afternoon at Auburn United Methodist Church.
Some riders will participate all three days, while others will join various legs of the ride.
Friday April 22- Day 1: Livingston to Selma
Saturday April 23-Day 2: Selma to Tuskegee via HW 14
Sunday April 24-Day 3: Tuskegee to GA state line and GA state line to Auburn, will end at Auburn United Methodist Church
For more information about the ride event, go to http://cycleofservice.arm-al.org or www.facebook.com/Bikebama
A community service work day in Tuskegee will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 23rd at Tuskegee Methodist Church 202 S. Main Street Tuskegee, AL. Volunteers will be continuing our efforts to renovate a church being repurposed into a Community Outreach Center.
For more information, contact Lisa Pierce, lisa@arm-al.org or (334) 332-8878 (cell).