It’s time for the Covington Cowgirls Drill Team’s ninth annual St. Jude’s Trail Ride, set for this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Geneva State Forest.

Sign-up takes place at the lake before the morning ride begins. A donation of $10 per person is suggested for the ride that benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Riders return to the camp for lunch and then the afternoon trail ride begins at 1 p.m. Participants have the option of riding in the morning or afternoon or both times.

“The first 20 to register get a St. Jude’s t-shirt,” said Tricia Courson, drill team director. “There will also be lots of great St. Jude prizes given away all day long as well as other horse related door prizes.”

Grilled hamburgers and hotdogs provided by the drill team are on tap for lunch for all the trail ride participants. People who would like to participate but are not interested in riding are invited to the cookout. The drill team just asks them to make a donation for St. Jude’s.

“We had some people ask about horse and buggies,” Courson said, “and we want them to know that they are welcome also.”

To get to the location from Andalusia, go to Opp and take Highway 52 to Highway 54. After making the turn onto Highway 54, travel to the bridge and take the first dirt road to the right after crossing the bridge. Then go about two miles to Lake Road located on the right. Or take Highway 331 in Opp to Bethel Church Road.

Weather permitting, there will be some new trails for the riders this year according to Courson.

“If the weather allows, we will be going on some new trails just opened to us by the forestry people,” she said. “However, it does have to dry out some for us to be able to go on these trails.”

All of the donations go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and past trail rides raised an average of $1,500 to as much as $2,500 for St. Jude’s.

Anyone who cannot attend but is interested in supporting the event can make donations by contacting Courson or other drill team members. The drill team also hosts a Veterans’ Day Trail Ride in the fall to benefit local special needs classes.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Tricia Courson at 334-222-8079, Donna Jones at 334-493-6730 or Donna Moseley at 334-493-4138.