Adoption tour cyclists to make stop in Bell Buckle

The cyclists for the Adoption Tour travel on winding roads and through rain to raise awareness about the more than 400 children in state care who need to be adopted. (Submitted photo)

Anyone who goes to Bell Buckle for a little shopping and dining is used to seeing motorcycles parked at the curb, their riders enjoying their own shopping and dining. But Thursday, there will be different sorts of bikes filling the parking lot. About 85 bicycles will be parked outside while their riders gather for a meal -- and a celebration. It is just one stop on the Adoption Tour, a state-crossing ride to raise awareness about adoption.

"More than 400 children in Tennessee are in state custody right now, waiting to be adopted; more than half of those are teenagers," stated a press release from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. "That is the reason 85 riders, each one connected to adoption in some way, are traveling 433.7 miles across the state of Tennessee over a five-day period to raise awareness of adoption."

In its fifth year, the Adoption Tour is a collaboration of adoption organizations, including DCS, Harmony Adoptions, Youth Villages and others.

Journey Home

The Adoption Tour officially began in Johnson City on Monday at 7 a.m. As riders and support crew make their way from Johnson City to Nashville, they will also be stopping along the way for celebrations in Maryville, Cleveland, Chattanooga and Columbia to honor adoptive families, pledge their support to those who have adopted and commit themselves to helping those children who still need a permanent home.

"That's the theme for this year's tour -- A Journey Home," said tour director, Jesse O'Hatnick, who rode in 2007. "These riders know first-hand what adoption truly means and they're looking for a way to show their commitment and share their stories."

In all, there are nine celebrations throughout the tour route, with the largest crowd expected in Nashville as the cyclists hit mile marker 433.

Personal story

The Galewski family of Dyersburg has four riders in this year's Adoption Tour. Greg, with two of his sons, James and Paul, and daughter Jordon will be pedaling together and sharing their inspirational story. Greg and his wife Cindy have four biological children and four adopted children.

"I rode for the first time in 2005 to celebrate our fourth adoption. Each year, it gets bigger and bigger," said Galewski. "I'm just amazed by the reception we receive in each city."

The tour itself is physically challenging, with more than half of the ride completed in the first two days.

"In triathlons, you have what's called a century ride. The bicyclists in the Adoption Tour will complete one of those on Monday and another one on Tuesday," said O'Hatnick. "Fortunately, we help our riders train for this in the months leading up to the tour."

Working together

As much as the ride is about the children awaiting their "forever families" and the awareness of adoption in general, the Adoption Tour promotes cooperation between the multiple agencies who work to find homes for displaced children in Tennessee year round. There are 18 riders from the Department of Children Services and 27 from the various adoption providers.

"Anyone who is considering adoption should know about the incredible resources that are available to them. It's not something you will have to do alone -- support is available to Tennessee families after the adoption is finalized," said Pam Wolf, the CEO of Harmony Adoptions.

With all of the hills and valleys, twists and turns, and seemingly endless days of the Adoption Tour, organizers say the parallel to an adopted child's journey is intentional.

"When we ride into Nashville's Bicentennial Park on that last day, we will be thinking about those children who are still waiting, still hoping. It will be bittersweet," says rider Zan Schriver, one of the tour's founders who has ridden every year.

"We have more riders than ever before, and a completely new route. I think all of this will make for the best Adoption Tour yet," said O'Hatnick. "What we need now is the public to know about us and the sacrifice these riders are making in the name of adoption."

For more information on the Adoption Tour, go to www.adoptiontour.org or follow the riders on Twitter @adoptiontour.