Saturday, May 23, 2009
Cycling to end hungerAntioch Church of the Brethren
The World Hunger Bike Ride is set for May 30.
JORGE VALENCIA The Roanoke Times
George Barnhart (second from left) is an organizer in the World Hunger Bike Ride and has participated for more than 15 years. He will ride the five-mile circuit Saturday with son David and granddaughters Natalie, 9, and Rachel, 7.
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When Wesley Naff was a teenager in the 1950s, he made a trip to New York and delivered cows that were shipped for disadvantaged families in other countries.
He returned inspired to Franklin County, became a schoolteacher and in 1983 started the World Hunger Auction at Antioch Church of the Brethren. He died in 1996 and his legacy has carried on: Ten area Brethren churches participate in year-round activities for the hungry, events such as concerts, a golf tournament and a bike ride.
"It was just in his nature to do that. He liked to help people," said his widow, Angelia Naff.
At 8 a.m. Saturday, the 20th annual World Hunger Bike Ride will begin at Antioch with routes of five, 10, 25 and 50 miles over mountains and valleys in Franklin and Floyd counties.
Organizers of the ride say they have raised about $100,000 over the years and average about $5,000 in donations annually with 50 to 70 riders.
Like all the other World Hunger Auction events, organizers give about half their proceeds to organizations such as Heavenly Manna Food Bank in Rocky Mount and the RAM House in Roanoke.
They send the other half to Heifer International, which helps people around the globe become self-reliant by giving them livestock to raise.
"It's a very contagious organization to work with," said Bill Bowman, chairman of the World Hunger Auction. "And it's amazing to witness the enthusiasm of the people involved in the bike ride."
The ride is not a race, yet some riders make it a point to keep up with others, Bowman said.
And the stories are plentiful. There was Carl Barnhart, for instance, who was one of the first riders for the fundraiser and participated well into his 70s. One year he collected $3,000 in donations by himself. Once he got injured on a 75-mile ride and still came back for a 25-mile ride the next year.
"We say it's not competitive, but it's hard to change human nature," Bowman said with a chuckle.
There have been other tales of enthusiastic riders, Bowman said, such as a man last year who came from Charlottesville to participate, and unfortunate riders who have gotten lost during the ride in areas of poor cellphone reception.
George Barnhart, a retired Virginia Department of Transportation bridge inspector, said he has participated in the event for more than 15 years, on circuits of 75, 50, and 25 miles with his wife, Karen.
This year, he said, he plans to ride the five-mile circuit with his granddaughters Natalie and Rachel Barnhart, who are 9 and 7, respectively.
"This is a family event, so I want to do it with my granddaughters," he said.
