By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



A group of friends and family were waiting near the K-Mart parking lot Monday morning when a group of bicycle riders rolled in.

The bikers were into their second day of the Alabama Teen Challenge (ATC) “Breaking the Cycle” Bike Tour 2008.

Twenty-six men are biking about 400 miles from Huntsville to Pensacola, Fla., as a fund-raiser for ATC.

ATC is a ministry that helps people learn new life habits to replace drug and alcohol addictions. Treatment usually consists of a one-year residency.

Dwayne Smith, program director for ATC, said most of the men who enter the program have no money, thus the need for them to participate in fund-raisers for the ministry.

This year’s bikeathon is going well, according to Jason Easter, who is intake director and pastoral counselor for the ATC men’s camp at Hayden. Easter, also a rider, is a former ATC resident who overcame an addiction to prescription drugs.

Only one rider has had an accident on the ride, when he flipped over his handlebars Sunday and possibly broke his wrist.

The men rode 71 miles Sunday from Huntsville to Hayden. The stop in Gardendale was a water break during their 59-mile ride Monday to their next stop in Alabaster.

One rider who had family waiting on him in Gardendale was Chris Holt. Holt’s parents Louie and Dee Holt were there, along with his grandmother Thelma Hogeland and other family members.

“I’m a very proud mom,” said Dee Holt. “I know I speak for a lot of parents when I say I’ve got my son back.”

“I’m so proud of these young men,” added Hogeland. “They’re making something of themselves.”

Joe Thomas of Morris, an ATC resident since March, said what he likes about the bikeathon is that it’s “a road trip without the bad stuff.”

Thomas’ buddy Calvin Jenkins of Newnan, Ga., said the ride is something he will remember for the rest of his life.

“This is something I’ll tell my kids about,” he said. “It’s great to have the freedom to do this, the freedom from drugs.”

Easter encourages anyone who wants freedom from drugs to contact Alabama Teen Challenge. Visit the Web site at www.alabamateenchallenge.org or call 647-6563.