By By Lydia Grimes
features reporter
Registration for Habitat for Humanity’s Brewton to Atmore bike ride is still under way.
The Greater Brewton Area Habitat has changed its name to Escambia County Habitat for Humanity — and expanded its reach across the county — and in order to get the word out and raise money for future projects, the organization is holding a cross-county bike ride.
The ride will begin at Burnt Corn Creek Park on St. Nicholas Avenue. The route will follow U.S. 31 south and west 27 miles to the Escambia County satellite office on the east side of Atmore. There all riders will gather as a group and ride an additional 2.5 miles to MayFest at Tom Byrne Park on Medical Park Drive for a total of 29.5 miles.
The route is paved and relatively flat, but it does have some rolling hills. Trophies will be awarded to the top male and female riders.
Participants can register at any time until the day of the event. Early registration by April 30, will be $60 and $70 on the day of the event. Registration will open at 7 a.m. and everyone must wear a helmet and ages under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Glaize said 12 businesses in Atmore will sponsor the riders, furnish T-shirts and give door prizes to participants.
Little Escambia Baptist Church will be stationed at the halfway point in Flomaton at Hurricane Park to provide refreshments while the riders take some rest time. Grace Fellowship Church will provide more refreshments at the Escambia County Satellite Office in Atmore.
For those who find they can’t finish the ride, the Habitat ReStore truck will go along with the bike riders to pick up bikes that are giving trouble or riders who decide they bit off more than they can handle.
Glaize said that all proceeds will benefit Escambia County Habitat for Humanity and will be used to fund the first Habitat home in Atmore. Participants are encouraged to solicit additional donations above and beyond the registration fee. All donations are tax deductible. Checks may be made payable to Escambia County Habitat for Humanity. Participants who contribute $100 or more in donations will receive special recognition and be eligible for prizes.