Next Saturday the streets of Haralson County will rumble with the sound of more than one hundred motorcycles as they make their way through an 80-mile course to benefit the Haralson County Veterans Association, not to mention the sound of dozens of tennis-shoe clad feet pounding the streets as runners participate in the walk/run to benefit the HCVA scholarship fund.

The HCVA and the Haralson County Veterans Ladies Auxilary will be hosting the 5th Annual Freedom Ride and the 3rd Annual Freedom Run/Walk at League Lowe Memorial Park and Helton Howland Park in Tallapoosa.

The run/walk was organized three years ago, according to HCVA member Ely Elephante, in order to help raise money for the HCVA scholarship fund

“We award the scholarships to high school students who demonstrate leadership and model citizenship,” Elephante said. “We award the top 10 Junior ROTC cadets at Haralson County High School each year and a graduating senior from Haralson county who is either a son, daughter, sister, brother, granddaughter, grandson, or spouse of an active member of the Haralson County Veterans Association.”

The scholarships range from $20 to $750, and the HCVA has provided 22 scholarships to date. Scholarship recipients are attending colleges throughout the Southeast, including West Georgia Technical College, the University of Georgia and Jacksonville State University.

The run/walk will begin at 8 a.m., and interested runners can register until 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. Everyone who registers will get a T-shirt. Top finishers will get a trophy or medal. Their will be awards for the youngest runner/walker as well as the oldest runner/walker, as well as the organization with the most participants. High school cross country teams are welcome to compete.

A photographer will also be on hand take a picture of each finisher and make pictures available to participants. Additionally, there will be fruit and water for all finishers.

Once the runners are on their way, it will be the bikers’ turn to roll up to the starting line.

Riders can begin registering for their 80-mile run at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. The ride begins and 10 a.m., and once it begins, HCVA President Sammy Robinson says there will be no stopping.

The 80-mile trek through the county will lead riders through Tallapoosa, Buchanan, Bremen, Waco, Buncomb and back to Tallapoosa to end the race at Helton Howland Park.

“There will be a lot of agencies involved because once it starts it doesn’t stop,” Robinson said, “so every intersection we’ll go through has to be blocked off in these town. And everyone needs to make sure they have a full tank of gas.”

Robinson says riders from all over the state show up to participate in this ride every year. So far, their most distant guest has been from Louisiana.

“This is one of the best rides around here,” Robinson says. “Last year we had 189 bikes and around 240 riders.”

All proceeds from the ride benefit the upkeep of the League Lowe Veterans Memorial Park, which costs the HCVA $7,000 each year.

“Once things like this are built, you can’t just go home,” Robinson said. “You have to maintain it, and it’s always a work in progress.”

After the ride there will be a 50/50 drawing and door prizes at Helton Howland Park. Riders in the run will also receive T-shirts as well as a U.S. flag at lunch.

The ride costs $25 per bike and $10 per extra rider. Registration costs $10 per individual or $20 per family to participate in the run/walk. The HCVA accepts donations from companies and individuals who aren’t able to participate in the run/walk. All costs are tax deductible as charitable donations.

For more information please call Ely Elefante at 770 646-0311 or Sammy Robinson at 770 574-7764.