The Second Annual Ride to Change Lives Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, June 11th with all proceeds going to the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center.
“Last year’s event was very successful raising $2,000,” said project chairperson Vanessa McBride. “We believe that the CAC serves such an important role in our community, and we decided that this was an excellent way we could support the children of Warren and Van Buren counties.”
CAC officials expressed their appreciation for the efforts of these individuals.
“We are so excited to have these wonderful people supporting our efforts again this year,” said CAC board of directors president Lisa Zavogiannis. “Board members will be here helping with breakfast, and we are hoping for a beautiful day for riders.”
Registration will be at the Children’s Advocacy Center at 1350 Sparta Street (next to Wendy’s) from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast will be served during the registration hour. Door prizes will be given away at 9:30 a.m., and Lowe’s will be sponsoring a Children’s Clinic to be held during registration. The riders will leave at 10 a.m.
This ride is not a poker run, and 100 percent of the profits will go to the Children’s Advocacy Center. For more information, or if you are not able to attend the event but would like to make a donation, call Vanessa McBride at 205-8987 or Sharron Ashford at 815-3778. You can also send your contribution to the Children’s Advocacy Center, P. O. Box 7287, McMinnville, TN  37110.             
“The Children’s Advocacy Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that depends on the support of our community to meet our financial obligations,” stated Director Anita Whitlock.    The primary objective of the Children’s Advocacy Center is to offer a child-friendly, secure, and safe place where children can be interviewed by a specialist in child interviews involving trauma.  A team of professionals can observe the interview via closed-circuit television, and as a team, decisions can be made about the case.  If it is determined that abuse has occurred, the child and non-offending family members are offered the help needed to recover from the trauma.  That help may include things like medical examinations, counseling intervention, and family support.  The Children’s Advocacy Center is also actively involved in education and awareness in the community.  “We just completed our school program last week, and we did school-wide assemblies in each school in Warren and Van Buren counties as well as one-hour classroom presentations with all the 5th grade classes.  The CAC is always available to help community groups with special needs, education, or presentations,” stated Whitlock.  Anyone needing such support can call the CAC at 507-2386.
 “We are hoping the Bike Ride will help raise funds to support the many projects of the CAC,” stated McBride.   “We chose the theme Ride to Change Lives because that’s what we want to accomplish.”  Everyone is welcome!  Anyone interested in participating can call 931-205-8987 for more details.  The cost of the ride will be $10 per bike or vehicle; however additional contributions will be appreciated.  Participants will enjoy approximately 100 miles of scenic views and curves. 
Dr. D’s Sports Pub will be serving a barbecue plate and sponsoring karaoke after the ride with all the proceeds going to the CAC.