Newton Citizen

COVINGTON - Registration is under way for the 21st Annual Covington Century Bike Ride benefiting Project Adventure Kids, which will take place Aug. 1.

The event is in need of support now more than ever, due to a shortfall in funding and supplies, said Project Adventure Development Director Donna Auchenbach.

"The state has done major cutbacks. It's very hard on everyone. For our program, it's very hard, because they've cut out totally the money for clothing and school supplies. We really need the help. We really need to make this a successful ride," she said.

The ride offers several route options of varying lengths: 30, 50, 80 and 100 miles.

It's known as the fastest route in Georgia due to the mostly flat terrain.

"People that ride 100 miles love it because they can get their speed up," she said.

Registration starts at 7 a.m. and the ride begins at 8 a.m.

The ride will start at Project Adventure Kids campus and travel through Newborn, Mansfield, Social Circle and Rutledge.

The registration fee is $40. A free spaghetti supper will be provided for all finishers.

More than 1,100 cyclists participated last year, but registration and sponsorships are down this year, Auchenbach said, attributing the decline to the economy.

Project Adventure is currently housing about 80 kids and is in desperate need of school supplies - the children go to school year-round, she said. The children live in 14 group homes in the Covington area.

Century participants can donate school supplies such as notebooks, pens and pencils as well as old cycling gear such as clothes, gloves, bike parts, tools and bicycles, on the day of the ride. Donations are tax deductible.

Registration can be done online at www.covingtoncentury.org or on the day of the event.

Those who do not want to participate but would like to contribute can send a check made out to Project Adventure Kids to Donna Auchenbach; P.O. Box 2447; Covington, GA 30015.

Any amount will be accepted. Registration forms and fees should also be mailed to that address.

For more information, call 770-490-8817.

Crystal Tatum can be reached at crystal.tatum@newtoncitizen.com.