Elizabeth Butler
The Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA —
VALDOSTA — Wheeled Warriors Bike Club is sponsoring a Journey of the Heart Bike Ride Aug. 7 to raise funds for the airfare and travel expenses of a family adopting a child from China.
Carlton and Lisa Brown are traveling to China in September to bring home 4-year-old Carriann, whom they are adopting there at the American Embassy.
Billy Lusk is president of the Wheeled Warriors, formed about a month ago and including 18 bikes and 40 people, all members of Azalea City Church of God, with the exception of a rider from Warrior, Ala.
“I’ve been into motorcycles since I was 9 years old,” Lusk said. “Our pastor (Brett Jarriel) is a pastor of outreach and missions. He believes the more we can be a part of the community, the more we can draw them in. I started this (bike club) as a way to draw them in. We have picked up members on account of the bike crew.
“Carlton and Lisa (Brown) have been a fundamental part of this church. Anytime the church has asked them to do anything, they have gone out of their way to do it and never complain about doing anything. This is our way of repaying them.”
The bike ride starts and finishes at Azalea City Church of God, 247 N. St. Augustine Road, from 8 a.m. until noon. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $35 which includes lunch and T-shirts. Drawings for door prizes will be held during the meal of barbecue chicken, green beans, potato salad, rolls and homemade desserts.
Lusk said the riders will cover from 180-200 miles.
“We will leave here and go through Lake Park to Jennings and Jasper (Fla.) and then to Live Oak, Madison, Greenville, Monticello (Fla.) to Quitman and back to Valdosta. Maps will be provided for the riders, but the pastor will lead the posse in his 1965 red Mustang.
“Once they have completed the ride, there will be a bike show for the registered riders with trophies for People’s Choice Awards.”
Those interested in going on the bike ride should contact Lusk at (229) 506-1779 or at the church at 244-1855.
“Carlton and I will never be able to truly express how grateful we are for what Wheeled Warriors is doing to help us bring Carriann home to her forever family,” Lisa Brown said.
