JACK 'n BACK - 2007
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Middle Tennessee did a great job on the 2007 Jack ‘n Back Charity Ride. The well-organized event attracted 710 riders from 12 states who collected contributions of $496,755 by Saturday, October 6’th. Starting at Page High School in Franklin Tennessee, participants rode seventy-eight (78) miles through Tennessee hills to Motlow State Community College near the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, the primary sponsor. Then after a brief evening rest, they turned around and rode back to Page High School.
Volunteers lined the route clanking bells, blowing horns, and cheering the cyclists as they passed. They also served drinks and energy food at five rest stops and offered words of encouragement and praise to those often feeling too sore or tired to continue.
Duck River Dulcimer Club
entertains at the lunch stop
on Saturday
Plus they carted the overnight bags and camping equipment of the cyclists to the college and secured their mechanical steeds for the evening. At the Finish Line on Saturday afternoon the riders that survived the first leg in ninety degree heat were greeted by a band, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, and continuous medley of “thank you’s.
Local Amateur Radio clubs and ambulances traveled the roads to pick up bikers with broken equipment or worn out bodies. Of the 710 that starting the ride, it appeared that about half did the return loop.”
A WELCOME Sign
at Motlow College ends the first leg of the ride.
Jack Daniels sponsored a barbeque dinner and drinks (Jack or beer) up on the hill overlooking the distillery and provided a fleet of Gray Line coaches to ferry participants, who chose not to camp on Motlow grounds, back and forth to five motels in the area.
In a nearly cloudless evening sky everyone sipped Lynchburg lemonade, listened to a great band play real Tennessee County music, . . .
. . . and watched a fiery red ball sink over the horizon.
At 6:00 AM Sunday morning volunteers served breakfast in the Motlow cafeteria as fuel to weary-eyed for their return ride. In the afternoon back at Page High School they served dinner and presented medals of achievement to those that pedaled from 120 to 160 miles to cross that finish line.
A band and grilled burgers in tent city at Motlow College
At 6:00 AM Sunday morning volunteers served breakfast in the Motlow cafeteria as fuel to weary-eyed for their return ride. In the afternoon back at Page High School they served dinner and presented medals of achievement to those that pedaled from 120 to 160 miles to cross that finish line.
Although the Jack ‘n Back is only thirteen years old, it is remarkably well-organized and staffed with hundreds of cheery volunteers and contributing organizations. Each year the charity ride attracts more cyclists who solicit between a minimum of $300 to $8000 each for Multiple Sclerosis research.
Phil Vickery organized the 2007 participation by the FOGBees (Fat Old Guys & Gals on Bikes.) We had four riders in our Pace Line (Phil, Jeffery Smythe, Ed Thomas, and Tom Evans). The team thanks everyone who sponsored them in this year’s Jack ‘n Back with their contributions to National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
