The Tour de TellicoTM charity fund raising event is really taking shape as events are added and details are hammered out. A walk, scheduled at the bike ride’s destination in downtown Tellico Plains, is really drawing some interest.
“The bike ride will be great,” said Pastor Charlie Barnard of First Baptist Church of Tellico Village, “but we also have folks interested in participating in the walk. Both riders and walkers will receive a ticket for a Friday night banquet, a T-shirt, the event, and the Saturday picnic lunch.”
The ride/walk is scheduled for Saturday, June 3. Bicyclists riding the 62-mile ride will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Tellico Plains and ride to Tellico Village with a return trip to Tellico Plains. Bicyclists riding the 31-mile ride will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the BB&T Bank in Tellico Village and ride to Tellico Plains. These riders will have transportation provided for the return trip to Tellico Village. The walk will start at 11:00 a.m. at the Visitor’s Center in Tellico Plains.
“I have had people tell me this event has inspired them to get their bikes out,” said Barnard, “even if they can’t make it any farther than the hardware store, they want to participate. We will have support vehicles all along the route to pick up those who reach their own personal goal and transport them to the rendezvous point.”
“Others view this ride as a warm-up for the more demanding Cherohala Challenge, which will take place just a couple of weeks later on June 17,” Bernard continued. “Ours is an easier ride than the Challenge, just 31 or 62 miles over rolling hills.”
The event, which has been dubbed “Tour De Tellico: From the Village to Plains,” will have something for everyone and Tellico Plains is a great ending point. There are many quaint shops, a bakery, a museum, art galleries, and restaurants for participants and their families to visit throughout the day.
“Everyone is welcome, no matter what their goal or physical shape,” said Barnard. “We look forward to having as many participants as possible.”
And for those who are unwilling or unable to participate in the physical aspects of the day, there will be many opportunities to take part.
“We’ll need people to help with registration, drive along with the riders in support vehicles, man the rest stops, and more,” said Bernard. “Everyone is welcome and everyone has a place.”
In order to plan effectively, this event requires pre-registration. The pre-registration deadline is Tuesday, May 30. The registration fee for cyclists is $35 and $25 for walkers. This fee includes an event T-shirt, a Friday night banquet, the Saturday event and a Saturday boxed lunch. Those who pre-register will have a chance to win door prizes at the Friday banquet including a $400 gift certificate to West Bicycles in Farragut.
The Friday, June 2 banquet will be held at the Tellico West Conference Center in Vonore. Those who have pre-registered will be able to pick up their event packets, partake in a pasta dinner, and listen to motivational speakers, which include former Olympians, Missy Kane and Dick Davies. The theme of the banquet is “Setting the pace for a healthier tomorrow.”
“We hope to inspire people to get started today to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle,” said Barnard.
The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $15 for those who are not participating in the ride or walk but want to attend the dinner.
Registration forms are available at the BB&T Banks in Tellico Village and Madisonville and Century 21-Howe Realty in Tellico Plains. Proceeds from the ride will go to Good Samaritan Ministries of Loudon County, Senior Citizen’s Center of Loudon County, and Good Shepherd Ministries of Monroe County.
Come be a part of this exciting adventure. For more information, call Charlie Barnard at 865-408-1328.
Corporate Sponsors:
East Tennessee’s Mountain Views, Knoxville News Sentinel, Covenant Health, BB&T, Tellico West Conference Center at Grand Vista Resort, Century 21-Howe Realty, Bistro by the River
