Pedaling for Pride raises money for United Way

The state’s three biggest college football programs were represented in a unique Wiregrass United Way Fundraiser on Friday.

Pedaling for Pride features 72 Wiregrass residents, each representing either Troy, Auburn or Alabama, riding stationary bicycles on a flatbed truck outside
Bruno’s at the intersection of Ross Clark Circle and West Main Street.

The participants rode the bikes for 30-minute intervals, and passers by could donate money in the name of any of the three schools.

“We knew this year there would be a challenge in fundraising, so we wanted to be creative,” said Walter Hill, chief executive officer for the Wiregrass United Way. “We combined a public event, riding stationary bikes, and made it a competition with football between Alabama, Auburn and Troy, and it worked. We’ve had people drop by cash or checks made out to Wiregrass United Way, they’ve called our office and made pledges, or they have gone online and made donations with their credit card.”

The location proved to be a boon for the fundraiser.

“We’ve gotten a lot of people who were going to the grocery store, Krispy Kreme, Burger King, Atlanta Bread, and next to us is the Wicksburg High School girls softball team doing Boston butts and ribs,” Hill said. “It’s high traffic area, which is obviously what we needed.”

Billy McCarthy showed up in jeans and a Troy sweater, not exactly sure what to expect.

“Honestly, I did not realize this is what it was gonna be, what I was gonna to be doing,” said McCarthy, who was representing Vaughn-Blumberg Services. “They give us a lot of funding for different programs, so I wanted to support them in any way. I’m kinda blown away by what I’m about to do. I didn’t know I’d be on a flatbed trailer. I guess ‘nervous’ would be a good word.”

State Sen. Harri Anne Smith also showed up, and her husband rode one of the bikes.

“We wanted to support this, because the United Way helps so many people,” Smith said. “This is definitely thinking outside the box. When you’re driving down the street see people wearing Troy, Alabama and Auburn colors on stationary bikes, it definitely catches your eye.”

The fundraiser lasted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.