PICKENS COUNTY — Hundreds of motorcyles will tour Pickens County Saturday as part of the 14th annual Ride for the Child.

The ride is the largest fundraiser each year for Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County.

Registration will be held from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. in the parking lot os the Bi-Lo on Cahoum Memorial Hwy. From there, the bikes will follow a route through the foothills of the county, then return to Easley for the post-ride celebration at Michael’s Pizza on North East Main Street.

The post-ride celebration will include a free concert by Southern Exposure. Bike riders will turn in their poker hands and winners will be announced. Top fund-raisers will be recognized.

“We’re excited about this year’s ride,” said Heather Witt, new Executive Director of The Parenting Place, home of Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County. “It’s a chance for the community to enjoy a spring day on a 100-mile ride while supporting the safety and well-being of our smallest citizens We are grateful to our sponsors, volunteers and bikers for supporting the ride, as we depend on these proceeds every year to help fund our vital services for families.”

The nonprofit organization has been serving children and families since 1991. Proceeds from the annual event benefit the organization’s prevention programs which include: Intensive home visitation for teen moms, victim services, children’s programs, parent support groups, parenting classes and community education.

“From 2006 - 2007, nearly 18,000 cases of child abuse were reported in our state and that number is estimated to actually be three times greater,” Witt said. “This is devastating, considering that many of these situations are entirely preventable. As a community, we must support programs and activities that work to strengthen families and prevent abuse before it begins. That’s the only way we will end this tragedy that robs children of their innocence and even their lives.”

Sponsors for this year’s ride include Michael’s Pizzeria, Law Tigers, Muse Graphics, Bowers Emergency Services, Foothills Motorsports, Redneck Engineering, SC Telco, Kent Wool, Riverview Tavern, Blue Ridge Fest, Spinx, Publix Charities, Wal-Mart, Peoples National Bank, Sun Trust Bank, BI-LO, and The Graphic Cow.

For more information on the Ride for the Child, or to learn how you can help prevent child abuse, call The Parenting Place (home of Prevent Child Abuse) at 898-5583.