Motorcycle Rides To Benefit Youths

Residents looking for fun and entertainment, all while helping a good cause, will have two options coming up in September with the Eighth-Annual Lamar Hunton Memorial Ride benefitting the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes, and Savannah’s Ride and Polk County Music Festival, which will see proceeds benefit Cerebral Palsy patient Savannah Holcomb. Read on for more information on these two upcoming events.

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The Lamar Hunton Memorial Ride will take place Saturday, Sept. 17, with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the , with the ride leaving at 11 a.m. According to Diane Abernathy, administrative secretary for the , the ride began when former Sheriff Bruce Harris decided to raise funds to assist the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes. The ride, however, was named for Paulding County Detention Center’s former jail administrator, Lamar Hunton, who unfortunately passed away two days before their initial ride.

The purpose of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes is to provide the best possible full-time residential care for the dependent, neglected, abandoned and abused children of Georgia. The homes are not reform schools or correctional institutions, but warm, caring and secure places for children to live.

“The Youth Homes provide a secure future for Georgia’s needy and worthy children, to give them love, guidance, discipline and all the advantages that is every American child’s birthright,” Abernathy said. “The five campuses urgently need funding.”

According to Abernathy, when Sheriff Gary Gulledge took office in 2009, he became aware that Polk County Sheriff Kelly McLendon and Haralson County Sheriff Eddie Mixon also had a desire to raise funds for the Youth Homes. Gulledge then sent an invitation that was accepted by the Polk and Haralson County’s sheriffs to join them in a tri-county ride. Now all three agencies participate together.

This year, will be providing hamburgers and hotdogs, and will be donating chicken biscuits. Participants will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets for a 50/50 drawing, Glock handgun and a weekend getaway package. The cost to participate in the ride is $25 per bike and $15 per passenger. Those pre-registered by Sept. 8 will be guaranteed a T-shirt.

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Savannah’s Ride and Polk County Music Festival live from the Rock Campground will take place Sept. 9 and 10, with all proceeds from the ride benefitting Savannah Holcomb, an 11-year-old suffering from Cerebral Palsy. According to Savannah’s mother, Nichole Holcomb, she was born with Cerebral Palsy due to the lack of oxygen she received at birth. Holcomb said this is the second ride they have put together for her daughter. Their first ride in November 2010 allowed them to raise enough money to purchase a van that would accommodate Savannah, but it currently needs a lot of work to be functional for her. She is also in need of a lift for her home.

“There are no programs out there to help with finding accommodations, and putting together this ride was the only option we had to raise money,” Holcomb said. “Savannah is completely dependent on everyone around her since she cannot walk or talk.”

This year, they were able to combine the Polk County Music Festival in conjunction with their ride in the hopes of raising more money. Holcomb said she was excited at how the community has banded together to help with their cause and how much their ride has grown from their first one. However, they are still looking for sponsors for the ride and music festival.

With the event being held on a larger scale, there are more costs associated to make it successful such as insurance coverage and making sure there are outdoor restrooms available for those attending the concerts and ride.

Registration for the ride will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the campground. Fees for the ride are $20 per bike and $5 per passenger. Gates for the music festival will open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Advance tickets for the music festival are $8 and will be $10 at the gate.

For more information on the Lamar Hunton Memorial Ride, contact Diane Abernathy at 770-505-5533, or Melanie Thompson or Tom Murphy at 770-443-3015. To participate in Savannah’s Ride, to become a sponsor or to purchase advance festival tickets, contact Nichole Holcomb at 404-862-0857.