Why?
I get asked this question a lot. Why do you ride your bicycle for three days across Alabama?
The simple answer is: “to raise money for Alabama Rural Ministry to repair homes in Sumter, Macon and Lee Counties”.
But let’s dig deeper. Did you know that one in three families in Sumter and Macon County lives below the poverty line? If you are a homeowner, chances are at some point you are going to need repairs done to your home. The roof leaks, the plumbing stops working, the home isn’t insulated for those cold eight week winters that Alabamians forget about every year. Those types of repairs just won’t get done if you are on a monthly income that requires you to make a choice between buying enough food for you or your family, paying for your utilities and maybe even your medical bills.
The more complex answer as to why I ride my bicycle across Alabama other than to raise money to repair homes is also to build relationships.
I build relationships with my fellow cyclists. Let’s face it. You are going to easily spend 20 to 30 hours over three days on your bicycle. You get to know your fellow cyclists pretty well. You make new friends. You catch up with old friends. Maybe find out that the cyclist has a skill set or connection that could partner or promote Alabama Rural Ministry. You learn who is a morning person. Who isn’t a morning person? What their dietary habits might be. Which side (left or right) looks better in spandex (FYI-there is no good side).
You are also strengthening relationships with your family, your friends and your sponsors. I can’t tell how much it means to get a text, an email or to see people cheering for you on the side of the road. Whether it is at the start, the middle or the end, the affirmation for the “cause” validates the sore muscles, the odd tan lines and the raccoon eyes.
But the most important relationship you build is the one you are creating with the families whose homes will be repaired. The money raised can now winterize Ms. Ethel’s house. Maybe it is repairing a roof at Ms. Sanford’s home or damaged ceilings at Ms. Turk’s house.
So riding across the state of Alabama is more than just pedaling 245 miles. It’s about raising awareness that we have brothers and sisters who are in real immediate need. It’s about shifting the statistic to an actual face that has a name and is a child of God.
So this week, I ask that you pray for the riders. Pray that we have the strength to complete the ride. Pray that the cyclists will make wise decisions on the road (no Pilates while riding). Pray that we achieve our goal so that families can have a warm, safe and dry home to live in. I also ask, if you feel led, to donate. No amount is too small and you can donate by using this link: https://arm-al.networkforgood.com/projects/50458-scott-middleton-s-fundraiser
Scott Middleton