Larry Smith hopes to be one of 100 riders to take his Harley-Davidson out on the open road during the Harvest Chapel Church Charity Motorcycle Ride July 18.

The ride will begin at 10 a.m. at Harvest Chapel, at the corner of Eighth Avenue and 14th Street in Calera. Participants must register at 8 a.m.

Registration is $25 per bike, $5 per passenger. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Smith, who attends Harvest Chapel, said he and other church members chose to fund-raise for the American Cancer Society in honor of Calera Fire Chief Tommy Moon, who has been diagnosed with leukemia.

“We were just sitting around and came up with the idea,” Smith said. “This will be the first ride we’ve ever done, and if it goes well, we’ll have another one.”

Smith expects 30 to 60 riders to participate in the weekend event. The 90-mile ride will travel through Calera to Centreville and along Alabama Highway 5 before returning to Harvest Chapel. State Troopers will escort the riders along the route.

“We’d like to have 1,000 riders, but we’re hoping for 100,” Smith said. “We’re spreading the word in Tuscaloosa, Clanton and the Pelham area. We’re trying to attract riders from anywhere we can.”

Lunch will be served following the ride, and Waffle House will provide biscuits that morning, Smith said. Jacket patches that bear the words “Riding to make a difference in someone’s life” will also be available.

“We’ll have somebody on hand to sew the patches on,” Smith said.

For more information or to pre-register, call Smith at 796-4795 or Steve Roberson at 746-5650.