Memorial ride honors legacy, gives back

BY SAMUEL JONES

FOR THE LAFAYETTE SUN

CHAMBERS COUNTY — The Second Annual Tabitha Chance Memorial Ride will take place April 4, bringing the community together to honor Tabitha’s memory and sup- port two local women battling cancer.

“This is our second year put- ting this together, and we start- ed this in Tabitha Chance’s memory,” said Organizer Crystal Gentry. “She unfortu- nately lost her battle to cancer, and she left three boys behind. She was always willing to help and do for others. So, in her memory, we decided to get this group together and have a ride every year to help someone in need.”

This year’s proceeds will go to Cassie Blackstone and Amber Morris, both local to the Valley area and currently undergoing treatment.

“With these two young ladies, they’re doing a lot of trips back and forth to Birmingham and doing scans and treatments,” she said. “Their medical costs are up there, but also traveling back and forth to Birmingham is very costly. So we’re trying to help raise money to help cover those expenses and to keep them afloat.”

Gentry said riders will meet at King Ford in Valley, and registration is $20 for a single rider and $25 for a rider with a passenger. The ride will end at Clubs and Hatchets in Cusseta, with a hot dog food trailer on site.

“The race will end at Clubs and Hatchets, a new sports bar [which offers axe throwing and a golf simulator] that has opened in Cusseta,” she said. “We have landed four bands this year to play after the ride. We will also have a raffle and an auction going on in between the bands.”

Last year marked the first memorial ride, and Gentry said the organizers were able to donate funds to help a young man recovering from a serious car accident.

“Last year was our first year putting it together, so it was kind of small, but it turned out great,” she said. “This year, I’m hoping for triple the turnout.”

Gentry said the most meaningful part of the event is seeing the community show up.

“I love getting it together, but I love seeing the community and all the people come together to support people who are in need,” she said. “That’s the biggest enjoyment for me — to see all the people come together.”

Tabitha was 33 when she was diagnosed with a rare T-cell lymphoma. Gentry said Tabitha entered the hospital on Thanksgiving and passed away the following April after also battling HLH, an autoimmune disease.

“[The intention behind this event is] to keep Tabitha’s memory alive, for [both the community], her boys and her husband — it’s just something that they wanted to do to help others [through raising and donating funds to help community members navigate medical expenses],” she said. “And we look forward to doing it year after year.”

Whether riding or supporting from the sidelines, Gentry said locals are encouraged to attend and enjoy festivities afterward.

“If you know any riders, come on out and participate in the ride,” she said. “We want to encourage locals to attend and enjoy the event after the ride is over [where there will be] live music, a raffle and an auction to [raise money to] support these two young ladies.”

For more information, to make donations or to volunteer, contact Crystal Gentry at (706) 590-2283 or Jonathan Gentry at (334) 646-9695.