After roughly two years, the Rev. Charlie Barnard, pastor of First Baptist Church in Tellico Village, will be taking his bicycle out of retirement for a good cause.
Barnard and his friend Jim Myers plan to go on a 60-mile trek May 22 for Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.
“I knew I wasn’t going to do a motorcycle ride this year and so I thought, ‘You know, I ought to get back on my bicycle’,” Barnard said. “I’m glad I did because I had this heart episode a month or so ago where they thought I had all this blockage and so forth. Come to find out I didn’t, but the cardiologist said it’s probably all this bicycle riding that’s kept my heart in shape.
“So I thought I better keep doing it,” he added. “Mainly it was to do something for Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, and I knew I couldn’t do a motorcycle so I thought I’d get back on the bike.”
Hopes are to make the return special for a Memorial Day celebration, including having a service dog and families present that benefit from Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.
Barnard chose 60 miles to match his age. The route, which starts and ends at First Baptist Church, includes going through Loudon and Madisonville.
Since making the decision to bike again, Barnard has been training 50-60 miles per week, while Myers has logged 60-100 miles a week.
“Jim’s 77, but we’re only riding my age. I’m not riding 77 miles,” Barnard said. “The other caveat about this is I get to pick the route, so I tried to find the flattest 60 miles I could find. It’s hard to do.”
The two bicyclists have known each other for about 14 years.
“I think the Memorial Day is a patriotic as well as a religious holiday that sort of gives the support for veterans, gives us a reason I guess,” Myers said.
Barnard is no stranger to riding for a cause. For some time Barnard has rode his motorcycle with his wife, Teresa, to raise money, the most recent being 12 states and at least 6,500 miles in late July. In 2017, Barnard rode his bicycle to help raise money for Caleb Estes, 12 at the time, who had been diagnosed with bone cancer periosteal osteosarcoma.
After that ride, he hung up the bicycle. Through his efforts, both on the motorcycle and on the bicycle, Barnard estimated he has helped raise more than $320,000 for various charitable causes. He has no intention of stopping anytime soon as long as he stays in good health.
“My church is real good about jumping in and helping,” Barnard said. “We’ve got some great corporate neighbors that have helped, and Audrey (Young, Chick-fil-A marketing director) and Chick-fil-A have been very gracious to us.”
Sponsors include First Baptist Church in Tellico Village, Bike n’ Tri in Maryville and Chick-fil-A, which will be providing the meal for guests after Barnard and Myers return May 22. Barnard is confident at least $5,000 can be raised.
“Events like this we depend on to keep us in business,” Larry Denney, SMSD board vice chairman, said. “… It’s very important. We have so much support from the community with events like this. We have golf tournaments and silent auctions and all kinds of events that raise money and supports Smoky Mountain Service Dogs.”
The organization recently placed its 29th dog to a veteran. Training the dog takes at least a year and a half, he said.
“We’ve got veterans that have all kinds of injuries,” Denney said. “… It’s a life-changer for these veterans because it gets them — without the mobility, stability of a dog and the confidence that they get, they’re able to get out and go with their family or without their family. These dogs do everything from opening doors to bringing their medicine to be their crutch.”
For more information about the trip or to find a sponsor form, visit www.fbctellico village.org, or go to the church office at 205 Chota Road, Loudon. Sponsor forms can also be picked up at Village Salon, 222 Chota Road.
“It’s part of my gift back to the community,” Barnard said. “It’s part of the way I want to make our community a better place, and these guys have served our country and this is just a small way to help them and show our gratitude for their service.”
