7th Annual Cleveland Circuit Ride

October 2, 2021

Registration closes October 1st.

Visit The Cleveland Circuit Ride website HERE for registration and all other information.

    What is the Circuit Ride? The Circuit Ride is a fund raising bike ride that usually consists of 25, 50 and 100km through southern Bradley County in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains.  In partnership with local business Don Ledford Cleveland, Southern Heritage Bank, and First United Methodist Church, The Circuit Ride is raising money to fund local charity Family Promise.   Other contributors are Cafe Roma, Bradley County Sheriff’s Department, Broad Street UMC, Johnston Woods, Scott’s Bicycles, and J & S Restaurants.  This is a fully supported road ride with three rest stops and mobile units on the courses to assist riders when needed on an unbelievably flat route (for SE TN).

Where did you get the name from?  The Cleveland Circuit Ride is the embodiment of Wesleyan beliefs: namely that the world is our parish.  The early reformer and founder of the Methodist faith, John Wesley, did not confine himself to the pulpit in preaching the Gospel; he went into the streets, the pubs, the communities, seeking lost sinners; those little valued by “society”, but greatly loved by God.  John Wesley was called the Circuit Rider because of the travel by horse that took him to his missions.  The Cleveland Circuit Ride is established to do God’s work – to reach out and love (in a practical way) His children who are in need.

Why Family Promise?  There are many awesome charities that are meeting so many needs all around the world.  We at FUMC in Cleveland, TN support many of these, but also believe that we while we are ministering to the needs of those far away, we cannot neglect the needs in our our community.  FUMC has taken a leadership role in establishing and supporting Family Promise in Bradley County.  Family Promise is focused on the needs of homeless families; providing both shelter and necessary training to develop job skills that will make a family self-sufficient and able to stand unassisted (many of whom return to help uplift others).