VIDALIA, Ga. — (July 2020) — From July 20 to July 24, Paul Anderson Youth Home (PAYH) residents will bike more than 300 miles to honor the home’s founder, Olympic legend and “World’s Strongest Man,” Paul Anderson.
For the last 14 years, the annual bike ride has only included a select group of young men from the youth home. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of this treasured tradition, all 12 PAYH residents will participate. Over the course of the five-day ride, the boys will visit beloved Georgia areas including Savannah, Bethesda, Tybee Island, Isle of Hope, Millen and Jekyll Island. This year’s route also includes several educational stops at historic landmarks to incorporate experiential learning, including Fort Pulaski, Fort King George and the Smallest Church in America.
In 1961, Paul Anderson founded the residential home as an alternative to incarceration for young men struggling to find the God-given purpose in their lives. The annual bike ride continues to spread the message of the transformative work the Christian rehabilitation home has done in the lives of countless troubled teens over the last 59 years, as well as the preventative resources it provides to parents and families.
“As the new Chief of Operations for the Paul Anderson Youth Home and as a Savannah resident, I am very excited to be introducing my beautiful, historic hometown to this time-tested ministry where miraculous transformations have taken place in the lives of young men for almost sixty years,” said Colonel Ken Vaughn. “My hope is that the good people of Savannah will come to know us and be willing to partner with us as we enter the next half-century of helping troubled boys become young men of good character.”
Supporters can contribute to the Paul Anderson Bike Ride by sponsoring one of the riders. This year’s goal is to raise $160,000, which will allow the Paul Anderson Youth Home to effectively carry out its mission of helping troubled youth. The Bike Ride is one of three annual fundraising events for the not-for-profit Christian organization. Supporters can learn more about each boy’s story and donate at payhbikeride.com.
Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion Weightlifter Paul Anderson wowed audiences in 1961 when he rode his bike from Vidalia, Georgia, to Omaha, Nebraska, to raise money to open the youth home. This feat of strength inspired the annual Bike Ride, and PAYH continues Anderson’s legacy by using physical challenges to instill self-confidence and Christian character into the boys’ everyday lives. The ride uses the same principles to transform the boys’ thinking while celebrating Anderson’s historic gold medal.
Live updates will be posted on social media throughout the week. Follow the journey, meet the participants and learn about sponsoring a rider at payhbikeride.com or on Facebook (Paul Anderson Youth Home), Twitter (@payhministries) and Instagram (@paulandersonyouthhome).(Courtesy of PAYH)
